On Thursday 21 December, the European Commission decided to bring an action against Greece before the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to ensure the correct implementation of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (2014/89/EU).
This directive defines a common approach to the planning by EU countries of their maritime zones. This planning aims to organise human activities in maritime areas in order to achieve various ecological, economic and social objectives. These objectives include the development of a sustainable blue economy, the sustainable use of marine resources and the preservation of marine ecosystems. The correct implementation of the directive is essential to ensure that these objectives are achieved as part of the ‘European Green Deal’, the EU institution stresses in a press release.
The Directive required coastal Member States to draw up maritime spatial plans by 31 March 2021 at the latest and to communicate these plans to the Commission and the other Member States concerned within three months of their publication. However, Greece has still not drawn up its maritime spatial plans, and therefore the Commission is referring it to the Court of Justice of the European Union. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)