Toward downscaling maritime spatial planning: a regional framework for tailoring actions to local needs

Now that most national maritime spatial plans have been prepared in accordance with Directive 2014/89/EU, challenges and uncertainties persist regarding flexibility to address socio-economic, environmental, and governance specificities at regional and local levels. This study proposes a methodological framework for integrating regional needs into national maritime spatial planning (MSP) processes, thereby enhancing the role of sub-national actors in MSP and the effective implementation of actions. The research employs a comparative analysis of eight case study regions from five European countries carried out within the REGINA-MSP (Regions to boost National maritime spatial planning) project. These were selected to encompass diverse governance structures, competent authorities, procedural approaches (from strategic to more detailed plans), and stages of MSP implementation (including recently adopted, long-established, and plans pending adoption). The findings highlight persistent challenges in regional and sub-regional integration, including gaps in stakeholder participation, data fragmentation and limited coherence between national strategies and regional and local needs. The proposed framework provides a structured, participatory approach to identifying regional needs, translating them into actionable measures, and prioritizing interventions based on their strategic relevance and urgency. This study contributes to improving the adaptability of MSP to different governance settings and provides a replicable methodology for enhancing regional engagement in MSP.