The main project activity is to develop a maritime spatial plan (MSP) for the cross-border area (Mangalia-Shabla) that will focus on the main development regulations for maritime spatial surface and its interaction costal area, focusing on social, environmental and all domains, in order to prove the efficiency on the methodological and institutional framework. MSP will coordinate the efforts in order to create a common development vision.

MSP for the cross-border area (Mangalia-Shabla) will use the provisions of the common strategic framework and will detail the proposals in an integrated manner. The Mangalia-Shabla area has a high level of complexity in terms of important maritime port and shipyards, touristic resorts, biodiversity and wetland protected areas and mineral resources – gas extractions.

The cross-border cooperation in MSP involves some activities such as setting out institutional framework for it, defining the common methodology for analysis and spatial planning for maritime cross-border area, developing the common strategic framework for maritime spatial planning in Romania and Bulgaria and elaborating the maritime spatial plan for the cross-border area (Mangalia-Shabla).

MSP will be approved by organic law, it will enter into force no later than 31 March 2021 and will be reviewed at least once every 10 years.
MSP shall be developed in accordance with the MSP Methodology which shall be approved by Government Decision, according to the Art. 14, par. (3), of the Government Ordinance no. 18/2016 on the maritime spatial planning.

MSP step-by-step in the Black Sea, in according with the MSP methodology, take into account the following:

a) establishing and delimiting the attributions and competencies of the relevant authorities;
b) assessing the context and defining the overall framework for the MSP;
c) organizing the stakeholder’s participation and consultation;
d) defining and analyzing existing conditions;
e) defining and analyzing future conditions;
f) preparing and approving the MSP;
g) implementing the MSP;
h) monitoring and evaluating the MSP;
i) adapting the maritime spatial planning process.

The following aspects shall be taken into account in the development and implementation of the MSP:

a) land-sea interactions;
b) economic, social and environmental aspects, as well as safety aspects, including navigation safety issues;
c) promote the coherence as a result of interdependence between maritime spatial planning, territorial planning, urban planning and integrated coastal management;
d) involvement of the stakeholders, public administration authorities and the public concerned, in accordance with relevant provisions of the Government Ordinance no 18/2016.
e) the use of the relevant and current available data;
f) ensure the trans-boundary cooperation between the Member State bordering the same marine waters in order to ensure that MSP are coherent and coordinated throughout the marine region concerned, in accordance with the provisions of Governmet Ordinance no. 18/2016;
g) the responsable Romanian authorities shall foster cooperating, as far as possible with the relavant authorities of third countries, on their actions relating to maritime spatial planning in the relevant marine regions, in accordance with the international law and conventions to which they are party;
h) maritime hydrographyc activity;
i) monitoring activity – alarming to maritime natural hazard.

MSP identifies the spatial and temporal distribution of current and future activities and uses in marine waters. MSP has directional and regulatory character, integrating, but not limited to, the following activities, uses and areas:

a) aquaculture areas;
b) fishing areas;
c) installations and infrastructures for the exploration, exploitation and extraction of oil, of gas and other energy resources, of minerals and aggregates, and for the production of energy from renewable sources;
d) maritime transport routes and traffic flows;
e) military exercise and training areas;
f) protected natural areas within the national network;
g) raw material extraction areas;
h) scientific research, including the installations and infrastructures of the scientific research and monitoring of the marine environment;
i) submarine cable and pipeline routes, as well as their safety and protection areas;
j) tourism activities;
k) underwater cultural heritage;
l) coastal protection measures against erosion;
m) contingency plans in the case of accidental pollution or in the event of a marine natural hazard at risk for the coastal zone;
n) the areas with port and hydro-technical infrastructures.

Stakeholder Consultation

The development and implementation of the MSP shall ensure the consultation and involvement of stakeholders, relevant public administration authorities and the target public by informing them of the stage of drafting the MSP, namely of the review project of the MSP. After the entry into force of the MSP, the stakeholders, the public administration authorities and the target public shall have the access to all the information contained therein.
Romania transposed the Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management into national legislation by:
a) Government Ordinance no. 18/2016 on the maritime spatial planning;
b) Law no. 88/2017 related to the approval of the Government Ordinance no. 18/2016 on the maritime spatial planning.

The main documents under public consultation are the following:

• The institutional and legislative framework relevant for Black Sea maritime spatial planning in Romania and Bulgaria;
• Common methodology for analysis and spatial planning for maritime cross-border area;
• Maritime spatial plan for the cross-border area (Mangalia-Shabla);