MARITIME POLICY : MARITIME SPATIAL PLANNING TAKING SHAPE.

• Position: Brief article

The Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP) and 'blue growth' took a step forward with the agreement reached by the Council and European Parliament, on 6 March, on the draft directive on maritime spatial planning - COM(2013)133. While it leaves each EU state free to plan its own maritime activities, the deal sets out a number of common requirements to help make local, regional and national planning measures in shared waters more compatible with one another. The agreement still has to be confirmed by both institutions.

Since maritime space is part of national territory, the subject is very sensitive. The need for more effective planning and management has emerged with the growing competition for space by different activities (energy production, fisheries, aquaculture, transport and other growth activities). The aim is to prevent conflicts and build synergy...