The preparatory action on MSP aims to gather practical knowledge and experience in the implementation of MSP in a cross-border context. Despite the ongoing activities of EU Member States in implementing MSP at national or regional level, cross-border cooperation between Member States remains limited. The preparatory action therefore seeks to stimulate the development of a common model, cross-border, ecosystem based approach towards MSP in the North East Atlantic / North Sea / Channel area . The objectives of this action are to:
Encourage concrete, cross- border cooperation among European countries on MSP;
Test the applicability in practice of the 10 key principles identified by the above-mentioned Roadmap;
Test MSP key principles in a cross-border context and identify possible gaps or lessons to be learned, notably through the development of MSP in sea areas shared by several Member States and by drafting maritime spatial plans for selected areas;
Identify potential barriers in the implementation of MSP and work out additional recommendations in view of the further development of a common approach towards the application of MSP.
n order to achieve the objectives, various actions can be envisaged. The following non-exhaustive list may provide some inspiration:
1) The demonstration of an MSP process in a specified cross-border area in the North East Atlantic / North Sea / Channel area on the basis of the development of an overall vision for a chosen sea area (or, if appropriate within the action, several sea areas), starting with an assessment of the sea area and taking into account both existing and predictable future uses, objective setting and the development of a maritime spatial plan.
2) The development of a methodology for applying and testing the 10 key principles identified in the Roadmap.
3) The presentation of a cross-border maritime spatial plan for the chosen sea area (or sea areas).
4) A proposal for a feasible and effective monitoring and evaluation process to complete the MSP process. The on the ground implementation of such a process would not have to be considered as part of the components of the preparatory action.
5) A report on the above process of developing cross-border MSP including the development of a model maritime spatial plan. This would normally include the explanation of :
• how the model sea areas were chosen and why;
• how the MSP process has been carried out in the specific cross-border set-up (including the initial assessment of the sea area, the setting of objectives and the involvement of stakeholders);
• how the cross-border maritime spatial plan has been developed;
• recommendations produced on the basis of experience which has been gained during the process, including any additional requirements or gaps that have been identified.
Such a report could also discuss whether all key principles are equally relevant for the purpose of developing MSP or if some principles are more important than others. Further possible principles or processes which are relevant for the implementation of MSP may also be mentioned
For the purpose of this Call, the North East Atlantic / North Sea / Channel area is considered to be the area as defined by OSPAR.
The action must involve at least two North East Atlantic / North Sea / Channel area coastal EU Member States. The action may also involve relevant international organisations, such as the regional sea convention (OSPAR). Coastal Member States from other European sea areas may join the action as observers. Participation of non EU Member States is possible, but no co-financing will be provided to them. No project will be eligible in which the lead partner is not an EU Member State.
Applicants should also note that the same Member State cannot be involved in more than one application.
The upper limit on the number of partners is 15. A balanced participation of the partners is recommended and should be reflected in the involvement of partners in the project's activities and through their respective financial contribution. It is clear that the budget of a partner must also be in line with the level of costs in the relevant country. Any major differences between the budgets of the partners must be clearly justified in the application form.
Applications under this Call will only be accepted if submitted by a Lead partner and partners which are public authorities or bodies of North East Atlantic / North Sea / Channel area coastal EU Member States of the European Union. OSPAR may also be the lead partner or a partner to the action.
Authorities and public bodies of Member States refer to organizations that are part of the administrative structure of Member States. Each Member State is responsible for confirming the legal status of partners located on its territory. Article 1 of Directive 2004/18/EC defines such authority as any body:
(a) Established for the specific purpose of meeting needs in the general interest, not having an industrial or commercial character;
(b) Having legal personality; and
(c) - financed, for the most part, by the State, regional or local authorities, or other bodies governed by public law;
- or subject to management supervision by those bodies;
- or having an administrative, managerial or supervisory board, more than half of whose members are appointed by the State, regional or local authorities, or by other bodies governed by public law.
The maximum European Union financing available for this preparatory action is 450.000€. Only eligible costs defined as such in this call for proposals may qualify for European Union funding.
This amount is considered to be sufficient for the co-financing of a preparatory action that consists of the development of a simulated MSP process in a cross-border area, carried out in the above-mentioned sea basin.
The maximum co-financing rate will be 80% of eligible costs.
All questions related to the call may be sent by electronic means (e-mail) to:
MARE-E1@ec.europa.eu
indicating the subject title ‘Preparatory action on Maritime Spatial Planning in the North East Atlantic / North Sea / Channel area’. Such questions, together with their answers, if of a general interest, will be published on:
http://www.ec.europa.eu/fisheries/tenders_proposals_en.htm
Questions submitted during the following periods of closure of the Commission's offices will only be answered after the respective closure periods:
• 24 December 2009 – 3 January 2010 (both days included)
• 1-5 April 2010 (both days included)
In order to ensure equal treatment, questions will only be answered if submitted not later than 15 April 2009.
Upon request, the Lead Partner shall provide proof of the public status of any of the project partners.
Applications submitted by one or more partners that are not a public authority or body shall not be considered eligible for a European Union grant under this Call.
Furthermore, and subject to European Union procurement rules (cf. Art.184 §1 and §2 of Commission Regulation No. 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 ), the private sector can be sub-contracted by partners to provide services or to assist in the implementation of certain limited activities .
The core project partnership can only involve contributing partners. However, it is possible for other relevant parties e.g. non EU Member States or EU Member States from different sea basins than the North East Atlantic / North Sea / Channel area) to participate with an observer status. Observer status in this context means that participation in any project activity or project meetings will be on observers' own expenses (e.g. travel costs for observers are not eligible under this preparatory action). Furthermore, observers will not receive any European Union co-financing and will not join or undersign any statements.
Any organisation that contributes to the implementation of the project and receives European Union funding has to be listed as a formal project partner. In all other cases, any form of participation in the project would be considered as sub-contracting by one of the formal partners and therefore requires the respect of national and European procurement rules and a full payment from the partner on the basis of a contract and invoices.
De richtlijnen voor deze oproep bevinden zich in bijlage
Meer info op http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/tenders_proposals/mare_2009_17_en.htm
