Country information
Basic facts on marine waters
- Territorial Sea (12 NM): N/A
- Exclusive Economic Zone: Approximately 22 486 km²; the EEZ between Romania and Bulgaria has not yet been agreed upon
Technical resources related to MSP
- MARSPLAN-BS II – GIS webapp
- Synthesis report on maritime uses
- Defining and analyzing existing conditions in the maritime space
- Defining and analyzing future conditions in the maritim espace
- Land-Sea Interactions
- Bulgarian and Romanian maritime areas detailed studies
- Eforie case study
- Sketch match from Sfântu Gheorghe case study
- Maritime Spatial Plan for the cross-border area Mangalia – Shabla
- Marine Spatial Planning in Romania: State of the art and evidence from stakeholders
- Report on the state of the Romanian marine and coastal environment
Relevant MSP projects
- Cross-border Maritime Spatial Planning for Black Sea –Bulgaria and Romania (MARSPLAN-BS II) (2019-2021)
- TEAM4SEAS – Bridging the gaps: An innovative and operational participatory platform to connect science, stakeholders and policy for successful maritime spatial planning in Romania (2018-2020)
- ECOAST – New methodologies for an ecosystem approach to spatial and temporal management of fisheries and aquaculture in coastal areas (2016-2018)
- MARSEA – Development of an integrated framework for marine spatial planning in Romania (2016-2017)
- Cross-border Maritime Spatial Plan for the Black-Sea –Romania and Bulgaria (MARSPLAN – BS) (2015-2018)
- PEGASO – People for Ecosystem-based Governance in Assessing Sustainable Development of Ocean and Coast (2010-2014)
- PlanCoast – Tools and capacities for an effective integrated planning in coastal zones and maritime areas in the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Sea regions (2006-2008)
Overview of MSP related maritime uses
Current main uses:
| Aquaculture | Oil and Gas |
| Cables and pipelines | Ports |
| Coastal protection | Scientific research |
| Fisheries | Shipping |
| Nature conservation | Tourism and Leisure |
| Offshore renewable energy | Underwater Cultural Heritage |
Which marine spatial plans exist?
Name of the plan (year) |
Maritime Spatial Plan of Romania (draft) |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
National |
Pre-planning |
Status: Completed |
Assessment for planning |
Status: Completed |
Plan development |
Status: Completed |
Plan completion |
Status: Underway |
Plan approval |
Status: N/A |
Plan implementation |
Status: N/A |
Plan review |
Status: N/A |
National authority in charge of MSP |
Maritime Spatial Planning Committee |
Governmental funding |
Co-financing allocated for the implementation of the MARSPLAN-BS and MARSPLAN-BS II projects |
External funding |
Co-funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund of the European Union |
Public-private funding |
N/A |
Size of planning area |
The entire area in which Romanian exercises its authority and in which it implements the maritime spatial planning policies |
Time required to complete the planning document |
7 months |
Main issued that led to the adoption of MSP (drivers) |
MSP for Romania is in the process of adoption |
Stakeholder engagement activities |
The two MARSPLAN-BS projects supported the competent authorities in Romania and Bulgaria to start and carry out the transposition of Directive 2014/89/EU and the procedures for developing the MSP. Since the implementation period of the 2 projects, consultations with all the interested stakeholders have been ensured. At the same time, in the official stages of developing the MSP for Romania, by the Maritime Spatial Planning Committee, another consultation procedure was carried out that lasted from April to the beginning of June 2022 and until the completion of the process, further consultations will take place both during the entire completion process of MSP as well as in distinct stages. |
Sectors included in planning |
Navigation and ports; Fishing; Maritime and sea side tourism; Military and restricted areas; Engineering infrastructure; Buried ammunition depots; Under water cultural heritage; Extraction of mineral resources; Renewable energy resources; Marine aquaculture; Protection and conservation of nature; Scientific research. |
Articulation between MSP and coastal zone management |
ICZM and MSP do not overlap, but considering the LSI, in the development of MSP, ICZM will be taken into account and the Committee for ICZM will respect the regulations established by MSP |
Articulation between MSP and marine protected areas |
The MSP has identified and appropriately marked the marine protected areas and the long-term vision of the MSP is that the future uses of marine waters in the Romanian sector of the Black Sea will be developed sustainably through the synergies created at the level of sectoral policies and through the mobilization of the competent authorities and to the key players of the blue economy, so that the good ecological condition that supports resilience, competitiveness and inclusion is achieved. Thus, the status of the marine protected areas will be taken into account in the maritime planning process. |
Articulation between MSP and sustainable blue economy |
One of the reasons that led to the delay in the adoption of MSP in Romania was the need for correlation with the new objectives of the European Union regarding the blue economy and the targets regarding the renewable resources. Thus, the MSP objectives were correlated with the new approach for a sustainable blue economy in the EU. |
Plan approval process |
The Maritime Spatial Planning Committee (Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration; Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Tourism; Ministry of Economy; Ministry of Energy; Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure; Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Internal Affairs; Ministry of National Defense; Ministry of Culture; Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization; National Agency for Mineral Resources; Administration of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reservation; Competent Authority for Regulation of Offshore Oil Operations in the Black Sea) led by the Prime Minister of Romania elaborates the MSP. Subsequently, the MSP is approved by the Government and submitted for adoption by Law by the Parliament. |
Legal status of the plan (guiding or legally binding) |
Legally binding (MSP adopted by Law) |
Plan review process |
The Maritime Spatial Planning Committee is responsible for developing and monitoring the implementation of the Maritime Spatial Plan. In accordance with the provisions of Government Ordinance no. 18/2016, the MSP is reviewed at least once every 10 years. |
Performance monitoring and evaluation |
The Committee periodically prepares, every three years, the monitoring report of the plan which is structured in thematic sections based on the areas of competence of the Committee members, who are responsible for producing monitoring reports on the activities and uses of the maritime space in the areas of competence. |
Legal framework
Romania transposed the Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and the Council of 23 July 2014 regarding Maritime Spatial Planning and started to implement MSP 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.
c) Government Decision no. 406/2017 for the approval of the Regulation on the organization, functioning and nominal composition of the Maritime Spatial Planning Committee.
d) Government Decision no. 436/2018 for the approval of the Methodology for elaborating the Maritime Spatial Plan.
A draft of the Plan was developed, discussed within the Maritime Spatial Planning Committee and modified according to the comments of the members of this committee. Subsequently, the public consultation procedure was launched, following which the observations and comments received were analyzed to be included in the plan. Currently, the Plan has been submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests to assess the need undertake the environmental assessment procedure.
Contact
Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration of Romania
Bogdan Ghinea – Head of unit