CROSS BORDER MARTIME SPATIAL PLANNING IN BLACK SEA – ROMANIA, BULGARIA

(MARSPLAN-BS)

Kick-off Event of the Baltic Sea project Baltic SCOPERiga, 29 September 2015

BLACK SEA BASIN SPECIFICITIES

The Black Sea is one of the main EU Eastern gate, a junction between Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East, important transport and energy hub, a crossroad of different cultures, a region with political, social and economic fragmentation.

With a surface area of 423,000 km2 the Black Sea is the largest semi-enclosed anoxic basin in the world, it is linked to the Mediterranean Sea by the narrow Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits and to the shallow Sea of Azov by the Kerch Strait in the north.

The Black Sea is among the most endangered ones in Europe, considered as a ‘closed’ water basin with unique, dynamic and sensitive ecosystems under threat by the continental pressures and conflicting coastal and maritime activities.

It is at the centre of different and divergent geopolitical and strategic interests .

SPECIFICITIES OF MARITIME SPATIAL PLANNING IN BLACK SEA

Only 2 EU member states in the Black Sea Basin;

After some active cooperation in ICZM, prevention of pollution, economic cooperation in the last period there is a stagnation of the cooperation between countries from the Black Sea Basin;

Until now very few progress has been made as regard the implementation of the Directive on maritime spatial planning in both countries and this projects will very much support the efforts of the Governments in this direction

10 years of intense cross border cooperation between Romania and Bugaria;

Relevant experience in cross-border planning (a strategic project – Common territorial strategy for the cross-border area Romania – Bulgaria has been implemented in 2012-2015, www.spatial.mdrap.ro);

ABOUT THE PROJECT

First project on Maritime Spatial Planning at the Black Sea;

10 project partners from Romania and Bulgaria;

Financed by EU Commission – grants for Integrated Maritime Policy; Budget: 2.049.015,74 euro (80% EU and 20% own contribution);

Period of implementation (August 2015-August 2017);

Within the partnership there are many experts on all the relevant sector but no sufficient expertise on MSP;

We intend to valorise and built on implemented MSP projects on other EU seas.

PARTNERSHIP

Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration (Ro) – lead partner;

Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (Bg); Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests (Ro); National Institute for Marine Research and Development – “Grigore

Antipa” (Ro); National Institute for Research and Development Danube Delta (Ro); National Institute for Research and Development in Construction, Urban

Planning and Sustainable Spatial Development – Urban-Incerc (Ro); Ovidius University of Constanta (Ro); Institute of Oceanology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (Bg); Executive Agency Maritime Administration (Bg); Bulgarian Ports Infrastructures Company (Bg).

Interest to involve other relevant stakeholders: the Permanent Secretariat of the Black Sea Commission against pollution, the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning – Turkey, State Scientific and Research Institute of Urban Design “Dipromisto” - Ukraine.

WP1 - CROSSBORDER MARITIME SPATIAL DEVELOPMENTA. Initial assessment

Elaboration of detailed studies for a complete analysis of the Romanian and Bulgarian marine areas;

Case studies on major challenges within the Romanian and Bulgarian

maritime space, three specific areas and for two specific domains: Eforie area (erosion) Sfantu Gheorghe (spatial development sketches) Bourgas (land sea interaction) Elaboration of detailed study on the establishment of a new ship

routing system in territorial seas of Bulgaria and Romania Aquaculture and fisheries

Reviewing the institutional and legislative framework relevant for Black Sea maritime spatial planning in Romania and Bulgaria.

WP1 - CROSSBORDER MARITIME SPATIAL DEVELOPMENTB. Preparing the cross-border cooperation in MSP

Setting out institutional framework for cooperation in cross-borderMSP;

Defining common methodology for analysis and spatial planning for

maritime cross-border area;

Common strategic framework for maritime spatial planning inRomania and Bulgaria;

Elaboration of a maritime spatial plan for the cross-border area(Mangalia – Shabla).

WP1 - CROSSBORDER MARITIME SPATIAL DEVELOPMENTC. Setting our a monitoring system of Black Sea area in MSP

Creation of a common spatial database for maritime areas in Romania

and Bulgaria;

Defining the indicators to be monitored and monitoring procedures;

Creation of a data sharing centre supporting the cross-bordermaritime spatial planning activities.

WP2 - PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Advisory board

Committee Steering

Thematic Working Groups

WP3 - COMMUNICATION

2 conferences (kick-off meeting, closure)

1 scientific conference

10 Thematic workshops

1 Website

Publication and materials

Dissemination to relevant institutions for maritime policy

6 Newsletters

WP4 – LESSONS LEARNED

Information notes with lessons learned for all the activities;

Conceptual note for using MSP approach in other Black Sea basin

countries;

Report with conclusions and policy recommendations.

Active participation at conferences

Ministry of Regional Development and Public AdministrationDirectorate General for Regional Development and InfrastructureWww.mdrap.ro

Diana TENEA, Director General – project managerdiana.tenea@mdrap.ro

Teofil GHERCA, head of unit – project coordinatorteofil.gherca@mdrap.ro+40372114519 / + 40752196153