Process towards cross-border cooperation in MSP
This phase aimed at identifying transboundary topics and relevant geographical areas as well as to gather background information and establish relations among project partners (PPs). A total of four planners meetings were organized during this phase.
The kick-off meeting took place in Gothenburg, Sweden in March 2015. The working groups on the two case study areas were established, and other practical and administrative issues regarding the organization, financing, and division of work were discussed.
During the discussions, the project partners (PPs) appeared confident that the project objectives can be achieved. They added also that the relations among neighbouring countries should be strengthened through the cross-border consultation process. They expected that national consultations processes will be improved since cooperation with national (governmental) stakeholders is a core part of the Baltic SCOPE project.
Although BSR countries are at different stages with regard to MSP implementation, the PPs considered this also as a plus since countries may benefit from each other’s different experiences. Furthermore, there was a general agreement on that planners within the project should see themselves as a group of planning experts that take national interests into account, but not as country representatives. Finally, it is to be expected that the outcomes of Baltic SCOPE will feed into the work of the HELCOM-VASAB MSP working group and into national maritime spatial planning processes.
However, the partners identified also a number of challenges. First of all, the timeframe of the Baltic SCOPE project (24 months) is rather short. Therefore, it must be ensured that the project activities stay focused and are in line with the application. Secondly, the fact that national planning processes differ (with regard to implementation stage, planning culture, legislation, etc.) may make cross-border cooperation difficult. Finally, Baltic SCOPE cross-border cooperation should not be dominated by national interests.
