Study on the economic effects of maritime spatial planning / final report

In the case of Maritime Spatial Planning, the European Commission aims to support its Member States with a tool that enables their maritime economies to grow sustainably. This implies minimum conflicts between economic activities AND other economic or human activities, whilst a good environmental status of the marine areas is realised. The question to be answered in this study is whether Maritime Spatial Planning leads to these desired effects. More specifically, it aims to find out whether and on which scale economic effects for maritime stakeholders in the European Union will occur due to Maritime Spatial Planning. In order to answer this question, Maritime Spatial Planning has first been conceptualised, addressing items such as the input and process needed to achieve Maritime Spatial Planning as well as the effects likely to result. It was found that if the process is managed properly the economic effects are fourfold: (1) enhanced coordination and simplified decision processes, (2) enhanced legal certainty for all stakeholders in the maritime arena, (3) enhanced cross border cooperation and (4) enhanced coherence with other planning systems.