Progress report for
Achievement at a glance
The Joint Roadmap is being implemented. In line with the priority action dedicated to transboundary Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP), the European Commission granted IOC-UNESCO an ad-hoc grant to develop internationally accepted guidelines for MSP, including transboundary projects in the Western Mediterranean and the Southeast Pacific. IOC-UNESCO is also to work on communication activities to support the Joint Roadmap. The project named MSPglobal is supported by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund: up to 80% (EUR 1.4 million) of the total budget (EUR 1.75 million).
Another priority area of the Joint Roadmap is capacity building: training for planners around the world and specific pilots linked to the implementation of the MSPglobal project in the Southeast Pacific.
In addition, the European Commission and IOC organised the first edition of the International MSP Forum in Brussels in May 2018. 150 planners discussed issues related to planning at sea and brainstormed ahead of the internationally accepted guidelines for marine/maritime spatial planning. The second edition was due to take place in December 2018 in La Runion (France). For security reasons, it had to be postponed to 2019.
Eventually as a follow-up of a first study titled MSP for blue growth (see Action IV of the Joint Roadmap), the European Commission has commissioned a 2nd study on the economic benefits of MSP.
Beneficiaries
They are primarily public authorities and bodies involved in maritime spatial planning, in particular in developing countries.
In addition, actions under the Roadmap benefit individuals and interested groups having a stake in maritime spatial planning (e.g. coastal communities, maritime economic sectors, etc.).
Actions
In October 2017 a first conference on MSP for Blue Growth (Action V of the Roadmap) took place in Brussels to share best practices on how MSP can lead to certainty and sustainability of our ocean economies facilitate cross sector integration. A manual was developed to assist maritime spatial planners in meeting their sustainable blue economy planning objectives and support MSP review processes.
During the May 2018 edition of the International MSP Forum (Action IX) in Brussels, 150 planners discussed issues related to planning.
The European MSP Platform, funded by the European Commission, disseminates through its website (https://www.msp-platform.eu/) extensive information on Maritime Spatial Planning which can be readily used, at no cost, by the beneficiaries of the action under the commitment.
 
