Slovenia was one of the first Mediterranean EU Member States to prepare and adopt a Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) in July 2021, as a fulfilment of the obligation towards the EU MSP Directive which requires its Member States to allocate their marine space for various activities contributing to blue growth. However, the Slovenian MSP goes much further as it integrates specific provisions of the ICZM Protocol, such as some important definitions of terms (Art.2), the definition of the coastal zone (Art.3) that includes the territory of all four coastal municipalities, and in particular the definition of the coastal setback (Art.8), supported by detailed mapping and a set of recommendations for sustainable use. And there is more: even bigger novelty brought by the Slovenian MSP is the first ever recorded setback belt of 150 m established on the sea side. We find this approach extremely wise and recommendable since it ensures that the development on both parts of the coastal zone is treated in an integrated way and with particular attention to land-sea interactions.
PAP/RAC has followed the process and actively contributed to the integration of the relevant ICZM Protocol requirements in this important national document. This collaboration will continue: we intend to promote the approach applied by Slovenia and contribute to the exchange of experience and best practices with other Mediterranean countries.
