Milieu to support the evaluation of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive and the impact assessment for the Ocean Act

Milieu, together with Ecorys and Stratégies Mer et Littoral (SML), has been awarded a new contract by DG MARE and CINEA of the European Commission to carry out the evaluation of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD) and the impact assessment for the forthcoming Ocean Act.

This study underpins the ambitions of the European Ocean Pact and will play an important role in shaping the future of EU ocean governance. The consortium will contribute technical, legal, environmental and socio-economic expertise to assess how the MSP Directive has performed since its adoption in 2014 and what is needed to strengthen Europe’s maritime spatial planning framework for the decade ahead.

The work will support:

• the development of a comprehensive evaluation framework under the Better Regulation Guidelines

• targeted evidence gathering to assess effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, relevance and EU added value

• the preparation of a robust impact assessment feeding into the future Ocean Act

• broad stakeholder engagement across Member States, sectors and sea basins

The study will help the European Commission enhance cross-border cooperation, support a sustainable blue economy, protect and restore marine ecosystems, advance climate and biodiversity goals, and reinforce the governance foundations of Europe’s ocean and coastal areas.

Milieu looks forward to working with its partners, DG MARE and CINEA, on this significant initiative for the EU’s marine and maritime policy agenda.