Country information
Basic facts on marine waters
- Territorial sea (6 nm zone): approximately 92,095 km2
- As a result of a bilateral agreement signed in Athens on 9 June 2020, Greece and Italy delimitated their maritime zones, including their future Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) on the basis of a former bilateral agreement (24 May 1977) concerning delimitation of their continental shelves. The 2020 agreement reconfirmed, in principle, the 1977 agreement, but also stated that both countries recognize the relevant provisions of UNCLOS signed five years later on 10 December 1982
- With a bilateral agreement signed in Cairo on 6 August 2020, Egypt and Greece partially delimited their EEZs without having signed a previous continental shelf agreement
- An agreement on the delimitation of maritime zones between Greece and Albania has been signed but has not yet entered into force
National practices
- Addressing MSP implementation in case study areas: Inner Ionian Sea – Corinthian Gulf
- Addressing MSP implementation in case study areas: Myrtoon Sea – Peloponnese-Crete Passage
- Reviewing and mapping fisheries restricted areas in the Aegean Sea
- Mapping the Aegean Sea and setting alternative scenarios for MSP
- Adriplan methodology
- Experiences from the Ionian islands pilot project
- MSP exercise in Southern Adriatic/Northern Ionian
- Pilot MSP plan in Lesvos and Rhodes
- WebGIS platform for implementing MSP in Greece and Cyprus
- Special Framework for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development for Aquaculture
National projects
- CAMP – Coastal Area Management Programme
- ADRIPLAN – ADRiatic Ionian maritime spatial PLANning
- MEDTRENDS – Future Trends in the Mediterranean Sea
- COCONET – Towards Coast to Coast Networks of Marine Protected Areas (from the shore to the high and deep sea), coupled with sea-based wind energy potential
- COASTGAP – Coastal Governance and Adaptation Policies in the Mediterranean
- SUPREME – Supporting Maritime Spatial Planning in the Eastern Mediterranean
- CO-EVOLVE – Promoting the co-evolution of human activities and natural systems for the development of sustainable coastal and maritime tourism
- PORTODIMARE – geoPortal of Tools & Data for sustainable Management of coAstal and maRine Environment
- MUSES – Multi-Use in European Seas
- MSP-MED – Maritime Spatial Planning in the Mediterranean
- MARISCA – Maritime Spatial Planning for the protection and conservation of the biodiversity in the Aegean Sea
- ECOAST – New methodologies for an ecosystem approach to spatial and temporal management of fisheries and aquaculture in coastal areas
- PROTOMEDEA – Towards the establishment of Marine Protected Area networks in the Eastern Mediterranean
- ΘΑΛ-ΧΩΡ (THAL-CHOR) / ΘΑΛ-ΧΩΡ 2 (THAL-CHOR 2)
Which marine spatial plans exist?
There is currently no legally binding national marine spatial plan in Greece; however, MSP related issues are addressed in “Special Frameworks for Spatial Planning” (terrestrial spatial plans – TS plans) covering specific economic sectors. Sectoral plans have been elaborated so far for aquaculture (2011, to be revised), tourism (under finalization) and industry (2009, to be revised), which include spatial planning guidelines for the land-based, coastal and marine segments of each sector. The Special Framework for Renewable Energy Sources (2008, new study under finalization) sets the strategic guidelines for offshore wind parks.
Legal framework
Law n° 4546 (GG 101/A/12-June-2018) transposes the EU MSP Directive (2014/89) into the Greek legal system and Law n° 4759/2020 (GG 245/Α/9-12-2020) amending the previous one through Chapter 2.
According to the provisions of the Law n° 4546/2018, MSP is to be subject to consultation with sectoral ministries, regional authorities and the public. It is also to be subject to an opinion/advice from the National Spatial Planning Council.
Contact
Ministry of the Environment and Energy
Mr. Nicolaos Tagaras – Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy in charge of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment
Athens, Greece
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Ministry of the Environment and Energy
General Secretariat of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment
Mr. Dr. Efthimios Bakogiannis – Secretary General
Athens, Greece
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Ministry of the Environment and Energy
Directorate General of Spatial Planning
Ms. Georgia Kotini – Director General
Mr. Dr. Georgios Manouris – Director
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Ministry of the Environment and Energy
Department of National Spatial Planning Strategy
Ms. Evgenia Lagiou – Head of Department
Ms. Elena Lalou
Ms. Anna Spyropoulou