Mediterranean Sea and Territorial Development, Opportunities and Risks

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1 EESC Hearing Towards an EU Macro-Regional Strategy for the Mediterranean Mediterranean Sea and Territorial Development, Opportunities and Risks Michaela Gensheimer

2 Structure of Intervention Part I: What is the ESPON 2013 Programme? Part II: ESPON ESaTDOR project Part III: Territorial development opportunities and risks in the Mediterranean

3 What? ESPON 2013 Programme Research & targeted analyses on European territorial developmentfor EU MS Development of scientific platform and analytical tools(e.g. database, territorial indicators, territorial monitoring) Why? Support policy development with evidence on European territorial structures, trends, perspectives, policy impacts

4 ESPON 2013 Programme Mission: Provide comparable information on territorial dynamics that can reveal territorial capital and potentials Principles: Demand driven, usability, flexibility, continuity, timing, transfer, quality, complementarities Budget : 47 mill Euro 34 mill. Euro from European Commission 13 mill. Euro from 31 participating countries

5 Terrestrial / Marine Territories

6 European Policy Context Territorial Agenda of the EU 2020: Maritime activities are essential for territorial cohesion in Europe.... The Marine Strategy Framework Directive and EU Integrated Maritime Policy call for coordinated actions from Member States on maritime spatial planning. Such planning should be integrated into the existing planning systems to enable harmonious and sustainable development of a land-sea continuum. Blue Growth initiative aims to elaborate the maritime dimension of the Europe 2020 strategy: "smart, sustainable and inclusive economic and employment growth from the oceans, seas and coasts". Supported by Draft Directive for maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal zone management

7 Aims of ESPON ESaTDOR project ESaTDOR European Seas and Territorial Development, Opportunities and Risks Map the different types of sea use across Europe to develop typology of coastal/marine regions drawing on existing ESPON typologies Identify developmental opportunities and risks for different coastal/marine regions Explore best practice in terms of terrestrial-marine governance Provide guidance and advice on how these critical assets can be effectively and democratically managed Suggest further areas for research to maximise opportunities, but minimise human impacts on marine assets

8 Population density in coastal regions Intense human development over last decades, causing a series of pressures and impacts. Over one third of the MED population lives on the coast (in less than 12% of the countries total area), while urbanisation rate has increased during last 20 years. Some of the most densely populated regions are those surrounding large port cities and capital cities (e.g. Barcelona, Valencia, Genoa, Naples, Rome, Venice, Athens, Istanbul, Malta)

9 Regions with highest GDP compared to national averages: northern Italy, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, Provence-Alpes-Côte d Azur, Athens and central Greece, the south Aegean islands and Crete. These areas are close to main ports and have a large coastal tourism industry. GDP in coastal regions

10 Employment in different sectors, 2009

11 Environmental situation Due to its size and limited exchange at the Gibraltar Strait, the MED is particularly sensitive to climate change. In western and eastern MED, average increase in sea surface temperature has been 2.2 and 2.6 C between respectively (source EEA). Important factors for heat in the basin: North Atlantic inflow of surface waters at Gibraltar Strait & large terrestrial warming of adjacent coastal areas.

12 Cold- and hotspots of maritime activities in MED Where there is intensive use of maritime resources, there is also often intensive activity on the adjacent land Hotspots in northern Adriatic, Malta and other islands in Mediterranean

13 Typology of maritime regions Can be used as a spatial tool for understanding land-sea interactions and informing integrated maritime policy development at a range of different scales. Transnational programmes/ initiatives (e.g. INTERREG) should make use of the typology (as well as of the maritime scenarios and regional sea reports, in developing their future activities.

14 Typology of maritime regions Mediterranean Different places have different potentials, e.g.: REGIONAL HUBS: Western Mediterranean area with a number of nodes of intense activity centred around the ports of Barcelona, Marseille, Naples, etc which brings pressure to bear on adjacent maritime regions. TRANSITION AREAS: Eastern Mediterranean less intense maritime land based activities and lower negative impact on maritime environment

15 Key territorial development opportunities and risks +Existence of an articulated system of Mediterranean institutions and binding commitments for environmental protection under Barcelona Convention provides opportunities for sustainable development initiatives between MED countries. - Unresolved conflicts and issues of boundaries could often act as a deterrent to cooperation and progress. + Big potential in a series of economic sectors (e.g. agro-industry, tourism, innovation and research, urban regeneration programmes) through crossborder cooperation. + Richness and variety of species lead to outstanding aesthetic values that are a vital resource for coastal tourism development. - Tourism, though, also impacts strongly on fragile natural and historical resources linked mostly to development of tourism infrastructure along coasts and increasing waste production.

16 Key territorial development opportunities and risks + Growing regional role of energy flows, especially in global oil market, which makes MED an important zone of transit. + Development of marine renewable energy activities is limited, but there are opportunities for use of wind resources and proposals to exploit currents in Gibraltar Strait. +Potential for MED ports to increase their share in the European maritime import/export sector (new rail infrastructure is planned to connect them to Europe s core areas). - Climate change and environmental deterioration are major threats and can have direct physical consequences for human activity concerning water resources, agriculture and fishing, attractiveness of tourist destinations, etc.

17 Recommendations for Mediterranean Improvement of capacity along with enhancement of public participation processes could prove to be essential for the effective implementation of policies and the improvement of decision making procedures. There is a need for a common strategy for the Mediterranean to solve common problems and work on projects on priority areas such as the protection of the environment, the strengthening of the transport systems, development of green energy, protection of the cultural heritage, etc. Data situation should be improved in certain thematic areas, namely transport, energy and network sources. Data situation even more difficult in MED due to incorporation of non-eu countries. The exploitation of development opportunities such as energy potential could also bring integration between European seas.

18 Recommended read ESPON ATLAS, Territorial Dimensions of the Europe 2020 Strategy (June 2013) Second ESPON 2013 Synthesis Report, Territorial insight: Where to focus what types of investments (June 2013) More detailed project results:

19 More Information Thank you for your attention Please visit