MSP-OR project wins "Atlantic Project Awards 2024" - Communication

Vice-Presidência do Governo Regional

The European MSP-OR Project entitled "Advancing Maritime Spatial Planning in the Outermost Regions" was coordinated by the Vice-Presidency of the Regional Government of the Azores, through the Regional Fund for Science and Technology (FRCT). It was distinguished with the Atlantic Project Awards 2024 in the "Healthy Oceans and Resilient Coastal Zones" category by the Atlantic Strategy Committee during the 11th Atlantic Stakeholder Platform Conference in Bordeaux.

The Vice-President of the Government, Artur Lima, stressed that this award "represents significant recognition for the Azores, reinforcing the role of the Outermost Regions in leading innovative initiatives in maritime spatial planning."

The MSP-OR project is primarily aimed at supporting the competent Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) authorities in the archipelagos of the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands, as well as in French Guiana, in implementing their processes, despite their different stages of development.

"This project is also an example of good practices in institutional cooperation between the four Outermost Regions and the three Member States involved," noted Artur Lima.

"This award not only acknowledges the hard work and collaboration between the Outermost Regions. It also reinforces the strategic role of the Azores in leading projects in knowledge, innovation and decision-making support," he concluded.

In the Azores, the MSP-OR Project is the result of a partnership between the Vice-Presidency, through the FRCT, as the entity responsible for implementing MSP, the Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries, as a partner, and the University of the Azores, as part of scientific support.

During the implementation of the project, which ends in December 2024, reinforcement actions for the implementation of the European Maritime Spatial Planning Directive have been carried out, adapted to the specific needs of each region. These include the acquisition of new knowledge, training sessions and stakeholder involvement through an ecosystem approach.

With an overall budget of around 1.9 million Euros, 80% co-financed by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, the MSP-OR project also focused on monitoring and assessing the effectiveness and impacts of MSP in the Outermost Regions, making recommendations for its implementation in the European Union.

Since 2016, the Atlantic Strategy Committee, supported by the EU Assistance Mechanism for the Atlantic Action Plan, has been recognising initiatives of excellence that are key to the implementation of the Atlantic 2.0 Action Plan. These initiatives stand out for their good practices and innovative partnership models that have the potential to be replicated at regional, national, European or international levels.