Implications for MSP work across borders
Cross-border cooperation requires multi-level and horizontal interaction of authorities operating at different territorial tiers. However, as expressed as one of the starting considerations for the Baltic SCOPE project, discussions around maritime spatial planning is already relatively well developed in the Baltic Sea Region compared to other European sea basins. At pan-Baltic level there are organisations such as HELCOM and VASAB contributing to the collaborations among national MSP authorities and to the integration of planning efforts.
The joint HELCOM-VASAB MSP working group, for instance, has developed “a regional set of MSP principles and adopted the Regional Baltic MSP Roadmap 2013-2020, which – among others – foresees to develop guidelines relating to MSP governance as well as regular reporting by countries on their MSP development” (Baltic SCOPE Application). The ten Baltic Sea Broad-Scale MSP Principles developed by the HELCOM-VASAB MSP WG and adopted by HELCOM Heads of Delegations and the VASAB Committee on Spatial Planning and Development of the BSR in 2010 are very useful in guiding Baltic Scope countries towards coherence in their MSP systems. 3 These ten principles are the following ones:
- Sustainable management
- Ecosystem approach
- Long-term perspective and objectives
- Precautionary principle
- Participation and transparency
- High quality data and information base
- Transnational coordination and consultation
- Coherent terrestrial and marine spatial planning
- Planning adapted to characteristics and special conditions in different areas
- Continuous planning
Furthermore, the Baltic Sea Region has seen a number of projects, bringing together national planning authorities in charge of maritime spatial planning, contributing to individual and institutional learning, and supporting transnational maritime spatial planning approaches. Sharing knowledge, ideas and learning from each other eventually creates a ’common language’ and as one of the foundations for the integration of MSPs.
In this context, the Baltic SCOPE project is not meant to develop a joint MSP covering all case study areas. Instead, and importantly, the project provides a platform for national planners and authorities to exchange knowledge enabling them to receive a comprehensive picture of current and future activities in the Baltic Sea. This in turn may lead to a common understanding, greater alignment of national MSPs and, ultimately, to better solutions for the whole Baltic Sea, particularly concerning transboundary issues.
At present, a governance structure for decision-making on transnational level concerning MSP issues is missing. Coherent MSP is building upon voluntary agreements and trust between Member States. HELCOM and VASAB (especially the HELCOM-VASAG MSP WG) serves as a kind of platform for MSP on transnational level; however, they lack mandate and legitimacy to solve real disputes between countries. The same goes for international instruments, such as ESPOO and Aarhus conventions. They focus on process-related and environmental impact and not as much on planning and development, thus are limited as to what extent they can influence the process of developing maritime spatial plans.
Cross-border cooperation towards sustainable solutions requires collaboration already from the very beginning as well as continuous dialogue and maybe even negotiations throughout the entire planning process. It has to be taken into account that negotiations at higher political level may be necessary before decisions affecting the plan can be made.The Baltic Sea covers a rather small area and there is almost no open sea. All BSR countries share borders with a minimum of three countries, in the case of Sweden for instance its nine countries. The transboundary perspective in the Baltic Sea is complex and can be defined differently depending on the perspective and issues. From a pure ‘water and state perspective’ countries border each other in four different ways:
- Open Sea/EEZ
- Territorial Waters
- Narrow stripes
- Estuary (involving the shore)
Depending on the issue at stake discussions need to take place on pan-Baltic level (e.g. in case of shipping and environment), bi-lateral (e.g. focusing on a certain geographic area such as Gulf of Riga between Latvia and Estonia) or trilateral (e.g. in case of the EEZ involving Sweden, Estonia and Latvia).
