After two productive years of fostering trans-border collaboration in maritime spatial planning (MSP) across the Baltic Sea Region, the need to continue the conversation emerged. In May, a consortium of eight countries submitted a proposal to the European Commission for a new MSP project, named Pan-Baltic SCOPE.
A platform for practical MSP solutions
The overall project includes MSP activities at different geographic scales from pan-Baltic to site specific. The proposed project will support the member states by providing a platform for hands-on cross-border collaboration. At the subregional level, there will be a specific case related to the busy geographical area between Finland, Åland and Sweden. The case includes cooperation between the Regional Council of Satakunta in Finland, the Government of Åland and the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management.
The project will also develop and test tools and methods for the practical implementation of an ecosystem-based approach to MSP. It will also build experience on how to integrate land–sea interactions in MSP and deliver new and developed planning knowledge for direct practical use in national planning processes. At the pan-Baltic level, the project will contribute to further development of the transboundary cooperation on MSP in the Baltic Sea Region.
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