Slovenia
The obligations deriving from the MSP Directive in Slovenia were transposed in the Spatial Planning Act adopted in 2017 (OG no. 61/17 –ZUreP-2).
The Marine Spatial Plan is an umbrella strategic (spatial development) document, which provides spatial development guidelines for activities and uses in the Slovenian sea and coastal area. The MSP of Slovenia sets goals and guidelines for the further development of activities and uses at sea with the aim of achieving sustainable spatial development, i.e. sustainable growth of the maritime economy, sustainable development of marine areas and sustainable use of marine resources.
The MSP is prepared as an action plan for the implementation of the Spatial Development Strategy of Slovenia (SPRS) at sea. It is operational in nature and lays down concrete priorities, measures and guidelines for the 10 years future period.
The MSP defines the spatial and temporal distribution of activities and uses at sea in the fields of energy, maritime transport, fisheries and aquaculture, raw materials extraction and environmental protection, including activities that increase resilience to the effects of climate change, tourism, underwater cultural heritage and urban development. All these activities and uses already co-exist in the Slovenian sea. There are no new activities and uses planned in the area covered by MSP.
Although land-based spatial planning on local level is in the jurisdiction of the local communities (Istrian municipalities), the MSP also meets the requirements of Article 8 of the Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Mediterranean (hereinafter the ICZM Protocol), which requires the signatory countries to establish a coastal zone where construction is not allowed. That’ s why the MSP gives guidelines for the definition of the coastal zone on land to local communities by the sea (Istrian municipalities) how they shall define it in their municipal spatial plans. The MSP also includes guidelines regarding uses and spatial interventions in the coastal zone as a whole (at sea and on land), while the intended use of space in the coastal zone on land is completely in the jurisdiction of the Istrian municipalities and their municipal spatial plans.
The competent authority for the MSP is the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning (Spatial Planning, Construction and Housing Directorate).
Relevant Technical Information
- Slovenia’s internal waters: 46.3km2
- Slovenia’s territorial sea: 166.9 km2
- Junction area: 100 km2
- Support to the National Competent Authorities: The Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning (Spatial Planning, Construction and Housing Directorate)
- Dissemination and formation on MSP and Ocean Literacy at national level
On July 15, 2021 the Government of the RS adopted the MSP and by this adoption completed the MSP process, which formally began on June 13, 2019.
The process of preparing the MSP was designed in a progressive, inclusive way, which fosters open discussion, mutual confrontation and recognition of different points of view in terms of content and interests which resulted in the harmonized document, accepted and supported by all relevant participants.
The preparation of the MSP involved all the relevant participants in the spatial planning in the marine and coastal area at the national and local level. The following ware involved in the preparation of the MSP from the formal start of the process:
- all relevant ministries and services, responsible for individual content areas according to the MSP Directive, i.e. energy, maritime transport, fisheries and aquaculture, raw materials extraction and environmental protection, including activities that increase resilience to the effects of climate change, tourism, underwater cultural heritage and urban development;
- all Istrian municipalities and the Slovenian Council for the Adriatic Sea, the Regional development agency of South Primorska and the Public Institute for the Promotion of Entrepreneurship and Development Projects of the Municipality of Izola.
The preparation of the MSP was a three-step process: preparation of the draft MSP and the draft Environmental Report, public discussion on the draft MSP and draft Environmental Report, preparation of the MSP proposal and environmental impact assessment approval.
