Comparative analysis of Maritime Spatial Planning ... - Seanergy 2020

In Denmark, the Integrated Marine Strategy lays down a comprehensive governmental action tooptimise and coordinate current regulation in maritime zones. In terms of zoning for offshore winddevelopment, 23 possible locations for future offshore wind locations have been identified but arenot yet approved by the government.In its Maritime Spatial Plan (2009) for the North Sea, Germany defined priority areas for offshorewind energy use in its EEZ. The competence for MSP in the territorial sea is left to the regionalauthorities (Länder). Even though this decision can be interpreted as dividing federal and regionalcompetences, however, it has the advantage of local governance in the territorial seas. Localdecision-makers also appear to invest in careful consultation of local stakeholders. Also, localauthorities reportedly develop a better understanding of possible sector conflicts. Decentralisedgovernance often seems to result in larger local support and wider acceptance of ORE developmentin the territorial seas.The Netherlands have agreed in December 2010 an overall policy framework for MSP in theirmaritime zones, called the National Water Plan. This plan contains 2 main offshore wind energyareas (OWE), and also defines two large search areas.The criteria based MSP policy for ORE development in the UK leaves, in theory, all spatial optionsopen, as long as a series of MSP criteria are respected.4.1.3 Policy recommendationsMSP policies and legal frameworks are in general well developed in the North Sea basin, so policyrecommendations may seem rather superfluous in this EU maritime zone. However, even goodpractices can always benefit from „better and best‟ practices:• Ensure best possible legal certainty of ORE development though comprehensive MSP primarylegislation. The most integrated MSP policy related to ORE development has recently beenestablished in the Netherlands where a National Water policy defines 2 categories of ORE zones.Anchoring ORE preferential zoning to a comprehensive primary MSP legislation seems to offerthe best possible legal certainty for ORE development, at least from a siting point of view 52 ,• Ensure local and public sectorial support, for the development of MSP policy related to ORE interritorial zones in the North Sea. Without this support, legal actions against ORE in the territorialseas can be expected. That is why the German practice of delegating the decision makingprocess for ORE development in the territorial seas to the local authorities (Länder) is interestingand can be an example to inspire ORE related MSP for the territorial seas in the Mediterranean.52 The most important drivers for ORE development remain RE support schemes and grid connection,Deliverable D 2.380 | P a g e