Members of the Offshore Coalition for Environment and Nature (OCEaN) representing areas in the North and Baltic seas are calling on incoming European Commission and EU Member States to implement outstanding policy files around maritime spatial planning.
“The new EU mandate will be pivotal for shaping the future of the European Union and its Member States,” the group said in a statement. “Indeed, with the current legislative term ending in 2029, the decisions made in the next five years will be catalytic in defining the EU’s pathway to achieve climate, energy and biodiversity objectives hand in hand.”
OCEaN called for the implementation of the Maritime Strategy Framework Directive and the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive in order to beter integrate the requirements of the Renewable Energy Directive an environmental legislation across the EU.
“To limit cumulative impacts, we urge the European Commission and Member States to strengthen transboundary and sea basin cooperation, promote good practices for the siting of all activities – including offshore wind and grids areas and their co-location with other uses,” the organization’s letter read.
The group also called for the implementation of the Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy and the Net Zero Industry Act, and “make use of ecological and social non-price criteria for the design of offshore wind farm auctions, in line with the recent European Commission’s guidance on auction design for renewable energy.”