Northern European Sea Basins project (NESBp) achievements June – December 2025.

Activities under the NESBp Ocean Governance Work Package continued to advance its core objectives of strengthening multi-level governance in the Greater North Sea  and Baltic Sea regions and supporting the development of an integrated and ecosystem-based governance approaches. The work included a systematic review of existing governance structures across the Baltic and North Sea regions, alongside targeted exchanges with experts and stakeholders took place at region-scale events to enchance the cross-sea basin dialogue.

Advancing governance analysis and cross-sea basin dialogue

During this project period, work under the Ocean Governance Work Package continued to deepen the analysis of existing governance structures across the Baltic and North Sea regions. Through many interviews and expanded information gathering, partners sought to better understand which elements or “ingredients” are essential for effective transnational MSP. Insights so far indicate that, while various cooperation frameworks are already in place, opportunities remain to improve how processes function across borders. These include, for example, the comparability, availability, and sensitivity of data exchanged between countries, as well as how early and how meaningfully stakeholders are informed and involved. A recurring theme concerns the need for mechanisms that allow stakeholders from different countries to genuinely meet and exchange across borders, rather than only within national settings.
As this analysis progressed, a number of similarities and differences between the governance arrangements in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea were also identified. These observations provide an important foundation for understanding how collaboration can be strengthened and where tailored approaches may be needed. The findings will be examined further in the next phase of work, feeding directly into the development of MSP governance scenarios for the North Sea and into overall recommendations for improving transboundary governance across both sea basins.

First steps in cross-sea basin dialogue: MSP data experts’ meeting

The first concrete step in testing the cross-sea basin dialogue between the Baltic and North Sea regions took place on 13 October 2025 in Helsinki. A joint session of MSP data experts from both sea basins provided an opportunity to compare current data practices, discuss ongoing challenges related to data comparability, availability and sensitivity, and explore possibilities for closer technical cooperation.
The discussions were open and exploratory, reflecting a shared interest in improving how MSP-related data is used across borders. Participants agreed that continued dialogue would be beneficial, including further exchanges with MSP data experts in the North Sea as part of one of the GNSBI work tracks. Follow-up meetings are envisaged for 2026, offering a concrete opportunity to deepen collaboration on cross-border and cross-basin data issues.

Continuing the dialogue at the 5th Baltic MSP Forum

Building on this initial technical exchange, progress under this Work Package also contributed to a broader dimension of the cross-sea basin dialogue during the 5th Baltic MSP Forum, held on 11–12 November 2025 in Riga. The NESB project organised a parallel session on transboundary governance, which drew on the ongoing governance analysis to highlight shared challenges between the Baltic and North Sea regions—such as maintaining coherence between planning systems, aligning priorities across borders, and involving stakeholders early and meaningfully.

The session also brought attention to the growing need to balance offshore renewable energy development with the safeguarding of marine ecosystems, a challenge shared by both sea basins. Discussions underscored that nature and ecosystem capacity increasingly need to be considered as limits that must be respected in MSP processes, especially in areas facing high cumulative pressures. This opened a wider exchange on how countries might better coordinate when setting development priorities, identify potential areas of competition or synergy, and ensure that cross-border planning decisions remain ecologically feasible.

The session concluded by exploring how existing cooperation mechanisms could be strengthened or more closely connected in the future, particularly to support joint thinking on offshore development, environmental constraints, and the wider governance arrangements needed to manage these pressures effectively.

Watch the session recording here.

Read more about the NESB project: www.NESBproject.eu 

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.

A central theme at the Forum, and highly relevant for cross-basin dialogue, was the ecosystem-based approach (EBA). A keynote presentation introduced the rationale and practicalities of ecosystem-based MSP, highlighting how EBA can guide more integrated and strategic marine planning in general and at the Baltic Sea in particular. Following exchange underlined that while EBA is widely acknowledged as essential, its practical application still requires improved communication among stakeholders, earlier involvement of key sectors, and a clearer understanding of cumulative environmental pressures.

Watch the keynote speech and panel discussion recording here.

These insights reinforced the importance of dialogue—both within and between sea basins—as a means of sharing approaches, building common understanding and supporting more coherent, ecologically informed MSP processes.

Taken together, the MSP data experts’ meeting and the Forum sessions form two complementary starting points of the emerging cross-sea basin dialogue—connecting technical, strategic and ecological perspectives to support more coordinated transboundary MSP within and across the Baltic and North Sea regions.

Strengthening cooperation through the GNSBI Directors General Meeting

Momentum in transboundary cooperation within the Greater North Sea Basin Initiative continued on 25–26 November 2025 with the GNSBI Directors General meeting. Among the key outcomes was the formal adoption of the GNSBI Terms of Reference, providing a clear framework for future collaboration. The meeting also endorsed the Stakeholder Strategy, outlining shared principles for early, meaningful and coordinated stakeholder engagement across the basin.

In addition, the meeting hosted the first workshop focused on early MSP dialogue among countries involved in the Greater North Sea Basin, offering an initial opportunity to exchange planning priorities and identify areas for potential coordination. The participating countries further agreed on the division and rotation of chairmanships for the coming years, ensuring balanced leadership and shared ownership of the cooperation process.

More about the NESB project’s Work Package 2 “Ocean Governance” here.