Related projects/initiatives

BalticLINes

The BalticLINes project is the sister project of NorthSEE. The project aims to increase transnational coherence of shipping routes and energy corridors in Maritime Spatial Plans (MSP) in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). This prevents cross-border mismatches and secures transnational connectivity as well as efficient use of Baltic Sea space. Thereby Baltic LINes helps to develop the most appropriate framework conditions for Blue Growth activities (e.g. maritime transportation, offshore energy exploitation, coastal tourism etc.) for the coming 10-15 years increasing investors' security.

By working intensively side by side, the NorthSEE and BalticLINes project are able to strenghten each others output. The two projects are similar in:

Some overlap of the partnership (Overlap of Lead Partner guarentees information and findings are spread among all partners)
Overlap on two of the three thematic sectors (BalticLINes focusses on Shipping and Energy)
3 step approach of Identifying status quo, future trends and planning solutions
Use of MSP Challenge to identify future trends and consult planning solutions with stakeholders

Click here for more information on the Baltic LINes project

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EU MSP Platform

The European MSP Platform is an information and communication gateway designed to offer support to all EU Member States in their efforts to implement Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) in the years to come. With the adoption of the EU Directive on Maritime Spatial Planning (2014/89/EU), all coastal EU Member States are required to prepare cross-sectoral maritime spatial plans by 2021.

Funded by the EU Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), the European MSP Platform acts as the central exchange forum for the rich knowledge generated in past, current and upcoming MSP processes and projects. This will allow officials, planners and other stakeholders interested in MSP to build on what is already available, avoid duplication of efforts, assist in capacity building and foster development of new practices.

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Political Declaration on energy cooperation between the North Seas Countries

The development of an offshore grid linking the ten countries in the North Seas region (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom) is a long-standing energy policy priority for the EU. The region has great potential for offshore wind generation, and linking these countries via energy infrastructure will create jobs and economic growth throughout the region. A regional, cooperative approach will deliver these benefits in the most cost-efficient manner. Since the establishment of the North Seas Countries' Offshore Grid Initiative (NSCOGI) in 2009, the cost of offshore wind energy has decreased as the technologies used to generate it have matured, and in 2016 the countries in the North Seas region signed a Political Declaration to reaffirm their commitment to cooperation.

This cooperation has two goals:

facilitating the cost-effective deployment of offshore renewable energy, in particular wind
promoting interconnection between the countries in the region.

To organise the implementation of Political Declaration several work groups have been set up. For Maritime Spatial Planning a work group has been set up dealing with the following issues:

Coordinating the planning and development of offshore wind and grid projects beyond national borders including area mapping;
Developing a common environmental assessment framework;
Increasing the availability and interoperability of marine data for planning, impact assessment, licensing and operations;
Exchanging best practices on site preparation and the handling of unexploded ordnance;
Exchanging best practices on permitting procedures and work on the modalities of a coordinated permitting process for concrete regional or sub -regional joint offshore projects.

Some partners of the NorthSEE project (Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, Marine Scotland) are also active in this working group, thereby increasing cooperation between the project and the work of the MSP work group.

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SEANSE - Strategic Environmental Assessment North Sea Energy as an aid for Maritime Spatial Planning

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) can be used as a decision-making tool during the set-up of maritime spatial plans, the involvement of stakeholders and implementation of cross-border projects in specific areas. Therefore, the general objective of this project is to develop a coherent (logical and well-organised) approach to SEAs, with a focus on renewable energy, in support of the development and effective implementation of maritime spatial plans.

Some partners of the NorthSEE project (Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, Marine Scotland, Bundesamts für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie) are also partners of the SEANSE project, thereby sharing findings and ideas between the two projects.