Filenews 28 December 2021 - by Angelos Nikolaou
Cyprus had the obligation to draw up maritime spatial plans no later than 31 March 2021 and to submit them to the Commission on the basis of a relevant directive. This has not been done to date and given that the Commission has not received a timetable that would lead to the approval of the maritime spatial plans before the end of 2021, it sent a letter of formal notice on 2 December 2021. The Directive sets out a common approach for EU Member States to the design of their marine areas, i.e. the organisation of human activities in marine areas in such a way as to achieve various ecological, economic and social objectives such as the development of a sustainable blue economy, the sustainable use of marine resources and the maintenance of healthy marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
Maritime spatial planning reflects the state's vision for the exploitation and sustainable development of the maritime space of the Republic and determines current and future activities and uses. The maritime spatial plan will be unified, functional and coherent, integrating the individual existing, under licensing or future maritime activities and uses and covering the marine waters of the Republic of Cyprus.
In an effort to comply with the EU directive, Cyprus proceeded to the preparation of a policy statement, which, after being pre-approved by the Interministerial Committee, was approved at the last meeting of the Council of Ministers. A relevant proposal was submitted by the Deputy Minister of Shipping to the President. Based on the timetables that have been set, the preparation of draft marine spatial plans, which are expected to be ready in the first two months of 2022, will proceed. Once approved by the competent Commission, they will be subject to public consultation for two months.
Subsequently, a strategic environmental impact study will be prepared and submitted to the Department of Environment for approval. In the first stage, there does not seem to have been any question raised by the Deputy Minister of Shipping for the preparation of a study of a special ecological assessment, something that may be requested in the context of the examination of the strategic study. Depending on the results and the opinion of the Environmental Authority, they will be forwarded to the Interministerial Committee for preliminary approval and then to the Council of Ministers for adoption. The whole process, however, is not expected to be completed before the autumn of 2022 and until then it is unknown what additional actions the Commission will take if one takes into account that the Republic of Cyprus was given a deadline to draw up maritime spatial planning for seven years, from July 23, 2014, when the relevant directive was published.
It is noted that the policy statement approved by the Council of Ministers takes into account the existing economic, social, environmental and cultural dimension of marine waters, as well as the Development Plans implemented in coastal areas of Cyprus in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Law and the Strategy and Action Plan for the Integrated Management of Coastal Areas.
At the same time, the Policy Statement takes into account the main challenges facing maritime space, such as the impacts of climate change, cross-border issues and cooperation with neighbouring states and the EU's shift to sustainable investments.
PRIORITIES
Environmental – Cultural
• Preservation of Protected Areas. The spatial arrangements will adopt the regulations regarding the declared Protected Areas, the geomorphological formations of particular importance, as well as the habitats of marine protected species, providing where necessary for coherent corridors between them and buffer zones.
• Protection of marine waters from pollution. MSP will take into account Cyprus' commitments to both the relevant EU Directives and the Barcelona Convention and its relevant Protocols, which have been ratified by corresponding laws. The proposed spatial solutions should contribute to the implementation of individual commitments as much as possible.
• Improvement of air quality. Taking into account possible negative impacts of activities on air quality since there are marine and coastal activities that contribute to air pollution.
• Mitigation of negative impacts of noise on the marine environment. Taking into account to avoid and control the negative effects of noise on the marine environment, as it can negatively affect sensitive marine species and humans.
• Taking into account the effects of Climate Change in Cyprus. These impacts have been assessed by the National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change to address them. During the preparation of the MXS, appropriate adaptation measures should be taken into account in various sectors (tourism, ports, marinas, recreational craft berths, fisheries-aquaculture, desalination), taking into account the effects of climate change.
• Inclusion of erosion and alteration of sensitive beaches. Appropriate spatial solutions can reduce negative consequences. The MXS should also provide for measures to reduce geomorphological changes that may be caused by the existence of some coastal and marine uses.
• Protection of coastal and marine landscapes. Their protection should be in line with the European Landscape Convention, as well as the Cultural/Historical Heritage, where they exist and depending on their importance and the risk of their loss.
