Maritime spatial plan likely to be established by spring

TALLINN – According to the Ministry of Finance, the preparation of the Estonian maritime spatial plan has now been completed, but it will likely not be established before spring.

"The preparation of the maritime spatial plan has indeed been completed, the plan is now ready and available on the website of the Ministry of Finance," press officer at the Ministry of Finance Geili Heinmaa told BNS.

At the moment, the coordination of the draft order establishing the plan by ministries is underway, which, according to Heinmaa, is a regular procedural process.

The purpose of the maritime spatial plan is to agree on the principles of the use of the Estonian maritime space in the long term in order to contribute to the achievement and maintenance of the good condition of the marine environment and to promote the economy. Among other things, the areas for the construction of offshore wind farms will be determined with the plan. The maritime spatial plan and its impact assessment were initiated by the government on May 25, 2017.

At a government press conference in December last year, Minister of Public Administration Jaak Aab said that the maritime spatial plan should reach the government for approval in January. In January, however, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that the establishment of the Estonian maritime spatial plan awaits the adoption in the Riigikogu of the amendments to the Construction Code and other acts.