Press Release: Maritime Affairs: Commission promotes maritime spatial planning in Europe

On 25 November, 2008, the Commission adopted a roadmap on maritime spatial planning – a new tool to address the challenges emerging from the growth in competing uses of the sea. The roadmap will facilitate the development of spatial planning for both marine and coastal spaces, in order to realise the growth potential of EU maritime sectors in a sustainable way. Maritime spatial planning can also help coastal areas to prepare for climate change impacts such as rising sea levels, floods, altered marine ecosystems and investments in coastal protection.