BackPolicy Area Spatial Planning expands beyond the Baltic Sea region
The Baltic Sea and the North Sea regions are facing common challenges. Mutual learning between these sea basins is vital to overcome these challenges and find tailored solutions utilizing the best available knowledge and practices in spatial planning. Fulfilling the demand of the Baltic Sea countries, PA Spatial Planning is endeavouring to establish a cross-sea basin dialogue between the Baltic Sea member states and recently established the Greater North Sea Basin Initiative (GNSBI).
The technical meeting of the Greater North Sea Basin Initiative (GNSBI) took place in Hamburg 4–16 April 2025. This Initiative provides a regional platform for spatial integration of all sea uses by making proposals for better aligning maritime spatial planning and effective management processes, coordinating sectoral interests across boundaries. The North Sea and the Baltic Sea regions are facing common challenges such as degradation of marine ecosystem, climate change, energy transition. With the support of NESBp project, co-financed by European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), Policy Area Spatial Planning got an opportunity to discuss proposals for cross-see basin dialog on acute planning issues with colleagues from the North Sea.
Following the discussion at PA SP Steering Group in early April 2025, the GNSBI Technical group recognized mutual benefits of such dialogue and suggested specific topics for consideration. The North Sea would be highly interested in learning the Baltic Sea experience in ocean governance, which integrates national competent authorities, intergovernmental organizations as well as scientific community and civil society. Rich experience gathered by Baltic Sea countries in application of ecosystem-based approach in MSP, harmonization and sharing MSP data was highly valued by colleagues from the North Sea countries. At the same time, good practices of sustainable offshore energy development, multi-use of marine space and climate change adaptation developed in the North Sea region would be of high interest for the Baltic Sea. Both PA Spatial Planning steering group and GNSBI technical group agreed to use existing fora for the cross-sea basin dialogue, launching practical discussions utilizing such platforms as HELCOM-VASAB MSP DATA Expert Group and MSP Planners’ Forum, actively supported by PA Spatial Planning. Also, an open discussion on ocean governance and stakeholders’ engagement was proposed in the frame of the 5th Baltic MSP Forum, which will be held in Riga, Latvia on 11–12 November 2025.
