06/07/2026 NESB project at the 2nd EU MSP Week
From 1 to 5 June 2026 European Commission organised the 2nd European Maritime Spatial Planning Week in Brussels, Belgium. NESB project took an active role in the week-long series of events dedicated to Maritime Spatial Planning with workshops from work package 5 on EMODnet & Maritime Safety, continuing with NESB project meeting and joint workshop with MEDIGREEN, participating at the first GNSBI stakeholder conference and concluding the week with discussions on multi-use at the ULTFARMS workshop.
Maritime Spatial Planning workshop on EMODnet & Maritime Safety 2 June 2026
The morning session of workshop was organised by Seascape Belgium and it examined fit-for-use of EMODnet marine data services for MSP. The workshop showcased EMODnet’s offer and data services with focus on the European MSP datasets, and how they can be used by the MSP community. It opened discussions with participants about their feedback on the experience using EMODnet and recommendations for improving the fit – for- use of EMODnet data services to support MSP-related work, as well as collect insights in data needs from MSP practitioners.
Afternoon session was dedicated to maritime safety integration in MSP, organised by SHOM. Participants examined the concept of “spatial squeeze”, the increasing competition for limited maritime space, and its relation with MSP, maritime safety and security. In 6 working groups expertise from MSP planners, practitioners and navigation safety experts was brought around the table to structure and improve understanding of spatial squeeze, what data can shed light on the growing issue of “spatial squeeze”, how to use this data, map it, and what are potential operational measures to mitigate the “spatial squeeze” impacts at sea basin level.
NESB project meeting & joint workshop with MEDIGREEN
On the 3rd of June 2026 in the morning NESB project partners had the Project Review meeting with CINEA, but the afternoon session brought together two sister projects NESBp and MEDIGREEN for joint workshops on the ecosystem-based approach (EBA), ocean governance and data & knowledge sharing.
Through the interactive workshops participants discussed the challenges and possibilities of both a top-down EBA (guidelines) as to a more bottom-up ecosystem-based approach (EBA ladder for MariParks) and examples of nature protection regarding of a direct example of EBA implementation. Through a format of future scenarios participants continued the discussion and together in groups brainstormed of how future scenarios could play out. Lastly, participants were invited to share their ideas and suggestions on what data, information and knowledge can be and should be included in the knowledge sharing platform under GNSBI.
The knowledge gathered from these workshops will be analysed by the work packages and taken into account for coming work. For NESBp specifically, this means that the EBA is considered as MSP dialogue for the WP 2, for WP 4 the EBA ladder input will be incorporated into the blueprint for a MariPark. The results of the workshop of the scenarios will be considered for further developing possible best practices and scenarios of how the GNSBI can be further developed. For WP 5, the input gathered will serve as additional information on what type of data, information and knowledge can be added to the GNSBI knowledge-sharing platform.
First GNSBI Stakeholder Conference, 4 June 2026
More than 130 stakeholders gathered for the first Greater North Sea Basin Initiative (GNSBI) Stakeholder Conference representing governments, industry, NGOs, academia and regional organisations with the aim to learn about GNSBI’s activities and explore opportunities for cooperation on shared Greater North Sea challenges.
During the conference NESB project was actively contributing to panel discussions and parallel sessions, presenting multiple levels on how the project is facilitating the work of GNSBI and its working tracks, and potentials for future implementation of NESBp recommendations for GNSBI.
Read more about the conference and find the GNSBI song here.
Multi-Use at Sea: ULTFARMS Workshop on 5 June 2026
Concluding this week, the ULTFARMS project hosted a workshop titled “Advancing Multi-Use through MSP: Governance, Gaps and Pathways to Implementation”, bringing together a diverse group of projects and initiatives working on multi-use at sea, including NESB project and the Greater North Sea Basin Initiative (GNSBI).
Read more about this workshop here.
NESB project is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the project consortium only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
