News

MSP Planners’ Forum is a practical and informal dissemination and collaboration platform supporting ongoing national and regional maritime spatial planning processes and implementation of MSP policy for national-level MSP practitioners. The 8th MSP Planners’ Forum meeting was held online on 26th March 2026, this time focusing on scenario development. The usual VASAB & HELCOM updates […]

On April 2, 2026, experts from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany gathered in The Hague for a dynamic Maripark workshop. The event was organized in collaboration with the Community of Practice North Sea (CoP) as part of the NESB project’s multi-use work under Work Package 4, led by Blue Cluster. The workshop contributed to the […]

The idea of a Land-based Planners’ Forum in the Baltic Sea Region has grown through a step-by-step process of dialogue, analysis, and exchange among spatial planning actors across the region. This work was carried out within the framework of a project co-financed by the Swedish Institute, implemented from October 2024 to March 2026. It began […]

European Ocean Days 2026, Brussels, 6 March 2026. During European Ocean Days 2026 in Brussels, VASAB contributed to the panel discussion “Towards an EU Strategy for Coastal Communities”, organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE). The session formed part of the consultation process for the forthcoming EU Strategy for […]

While the Ocean Days 2026 were in full swing a parallel expert workshop took place on 4 March 2026 at the ENGIE head office in Brussels to discuss governance challenges for Mariparks and their alignment with the ecosystem-based approach (EBA). The event was organised by Mantis Consulting and IMDC, with support from Blue Cluster, bringing […]

Experts/consultants are invited to submit procurement proposals for preparing the report: “How Maritime Spatial Planning and Related Instruments Contribute to Climate Neutrality in the Baltic Sea Region.” The assignment aims to produce a comprehensive and policy-relevant report exploring how maritime spatial planning and related coastal and spatial planning instruments contribute to achieving climate neutrality in […]

Advancing VASAB Vision 2040, VASAB Ministerial Tallinn Declaration and Strengtening Planners’ Network The year 2025 has proven to be an intensive and productive period for VASAB Secretariat, marked by significant events and contributions across various initiatives. A highlight of the year was the successful 5th Baltic Maritime Spatial Planning Forum held in Riga, which provided […]