CHAPTER IGENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1Subject matter

1.

This Directive establishes a framework for maritime spatial planning aimed at promoting the sustainable growth of maritime economies, the sustainable development of marine areas and the sustainable use of marine resources.

2.

Within the Integrated Maritime Policy of the Union, that framework provides for the establishment and implementation by Member States of maritime spatial planning, with the aim of contributing to the objectives specified in Article 5, taking into account land-sea interactions and enhanced cross-border cooperation, in accordance with relevant Unclos provisions.

Article 2Scope

1.

This Directive shall apply to marine waters of Member States, without prejudice to other Union legislation. It shall not apply to coastal waters or parts thereof falling under a Member State’s town and country planning, provided that this is communicated in its maritime spatial plans.

2.

This Directive shall not apply to activities the sole purpose of which is defence or national security.

3.

This Directive shall not interfere with Member States’ competence to design and determine, within their marine waters, the extent and coverage of their maritime spatial plans. It shall not apply to town and country planning.

4.

This Directive shall not affect the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of Member States over marine waters which derive from relevant international law, particularly Unclos. In particular, the application of this Directive shall not influence the delineation and delimitation of maritime boundaries by the Member States in accordance with the relevant provisions of Unclos.

Article 3Definitions

For the purposes of this Directive, the following definitions apply:

  1. (1)

    ‘Integrated Maritime Policy’ (IMP) means a Union policy whose aim is to foster coordinated and coherent decision-making to maximise the sustainable development, economic growth and social cohesion of Member States, and notably the coastal, insular and outermost regions in the Union, as well as maritime sectors, through coherent maritime-related policies and relevant international cooperation;

  2. (2)

    ‘maritime spatial planning’ means a process by which the relevant Member State’s authorities analyse and organise human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic and social objectives;

  3. (3)

    ‘marine region’ means the marine region referred to in Article 4 of Directive 2008/56/EC;

  4. (4)

    ‘marine waters’ means the waters, the seabed and subsoil as defined in point (1)(a) of Article 3 of Directive 2008/56/EC and coastal waters as defined in point 7 of Article 2 of Directive 2000/60/EC and their seabed and their subsoil.