Marine spatial planning in Greece

the approach of the first Marine Spatial Planning Framework for the wider North Aegean region (Marine Spatial Unit 1)

Abstract

Greece is a country with a centuries-old history oriented towards the sea and with a long coastline, especially on islands. The Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), which was relatively recently established in the country by Law 4546/2018, as amended by Law 4759/2020, defined the philosophy and tools of this new field of spatial planning. The aim of this article is to critically review the marine spatial planning system in Greece, as it has been formed so far, through the presentation of the first Marine Spatial Framework (MSP) for Greece. The article focuses on issues of applied planning in order to highlight issues such as the spatial level of implementation of the MSP, the relationship between marine and terrestrial spatial planning, the degree of binding nature of the MSP, its interconnection with development policy, but also the geopolitical issues involved in planning.

In the light of the particularities that characterize Greek spatial planning, the first MSP, which was prepared in the framework of the research project "THAL-HOR 2" and concerns the Marine Spatial Unit 1 (MSU1) covering the wider area of the North Aegean, is presented. The article starts with a brief presentation of the national institutional framework governing the MSP and its specific characteristics. It then presents in detail the methodological approach followed for the preparation of the proposal of the MSP for the MSU 1 as well as the critical inputs taken into account. The critical elements of the proposal (alternative spatial development scenarios, location and integration identification, marine spatial development pattern, Marine Development Zones and action plan) are then set out, where examples of spatial guidelines and regulations are given. Finally, the conclusions of the article briefly discuss the key issues raised by the preparation of this MSP on the potential and limitations of such a spatial planning tool for the marine space.