During the previous three years, EU projects had made great strides to advance the young field of MSP in the Baltic Sea Region. PartiSEApate build on the discussions and results of two previous MSP flagship projects: BaltSeaPlan and PlanBothnia.
BaltSeaPlan
The Baltic Sea Programme project BaltSeaPlan (2009-2012) was jointly carried out by 14 partners from seven BSR countries. It accompanied the EU Integrated Maritime Policy by supporting the introduction of MSP and preparation of National Maritime Strategies within the BSR. The first transnational and particularly national cases with involvement of stakeholders were carried out within the project. View the BaltSeaPlan Findings.
One of main project outputs was the “BaltSeaPlan Vision 2030. Towards the sustainable planning of Baltic Sea space” (Part 1)(Part 2). The Vision layed out a possible roadmap with steps to be taken between now and 2030 to achieve a jointly agreed framework on MSP in the Baltic Sea Region. Furthermore, BaltSeaPlan developed a data model, the “Integrated Pan-Baltic Data Infrastructure for MSP – Framework Analysis and Recommendations for an MSP Data Model, Data Exchange and Good Governance”, which may serve as a basis for transnational networking.
Plan Bothnia
The project Plan Bothnia (2010–2012), coordinated by the HELCOM Secretariat, tested transboundary MSP between Finland and Sweden in the Bothnian Sea. The project was a Baltic Sea MSP “preparatory action” funded by EU Commission DG MARE under the EU Integrated Maritime Policy. The project developed “Necessary common minimum requirements for MSP in the Baltic Sea” and identified “MSP best practices in the BSR and other European maritime regions”.