Coherent and cross-compliant ocean governance for delivering the EU Green Deal for European Seas

Project Information

CrossGov

Grant agreement ID: 101060958

DOI

10.3030/101060958

Project closed

EC signature date 1 June 2022

Start date 1 September 2022

End date 31 August 2025

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

€ 2 999 997,50

EU contribution

€ 2 999 997,00

Coordinated by

NORSK INSTITUTT FOR VANNFORSKNING STI
Norway

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - CrossGov (Coherent and cross-compliant ocean governance for delivering the EU Green Deal for European Seas)

Reporting period: 2024-03-01 to 2025-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

CrossGov is a three-year project in the field of social sciences and law. Through the European Green Deal (EGD), the European Commission strives towards the achievement of highly ambitious goals and targets for the marine and coastal ecosystems of Europe. CrossGov focuses on the goals and targets related to biodiversity protection, zero pollution, and climate change adaptation and mitigation, and aims to enhance knowledge on how coherence in policy and legal landscapes affects the ability to be cross-compliant with multiple EGD goals and targets in concert. CrossGov research is conducted in the context of the multilevel governance system encompassing various sectors, and the multitude of policy landscapes at the global and regional international frameworks, the EU, and the European coastal states with their varying national governance arrangements. Despite fragmentation and implementation challenges, coherent and integrated policymaking and decision-making is necessary to ensure progress within all EGD policy areas. The project develops methodological frameworks for the assessment of policy coherence and science-policy-society interfaces; produces in-depth analyses of policy coherence challenges and opportunities at the EU and selected national levels; carries out empirical research within 9 case studies located in the Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea and North Sea; and develops roadmaps and proposals for the involved policy making community to guide towards more coherent and cross-compliant policy outcomes, contributing to the realization of the EGD.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Main achievements of CrossGov:

- Scoping: Translated abstract EGD marine ambitions into concrete scenarios for 2030 in the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean (D1.1).

- Conceptual clarification: Explained policy coherence and cross-compliance through a policy brief (D1.2).

- Framework development: Created the CrossGov Policy Coherence Evaluation Framework (D1.3) and a framework for assessing Science-Policy-Society (SPS) interfaces (D1.4).

- Policy design analysis: Assessed how EU and international instruments support or hinder EGD goals (D2.1).

- Coherence analysis:
* Horizontal coherence: Evaluated EU policy design, identified drivers of (in)coherence, and proposed improvements (D2.2 & D2.4).
* Vertical coherence: Analyzed national implementation of EU directives and implications for EGD (D2.3).

- Policy recommendations: Provided input on MSFD, MSPD, CFP, CAP, and contributed to WP4 Roadmaps and framework refinement.

- Case study coordination: Guided case study leaders on methodological alignment (D3.1).

- Case Studies:
* 4 studies on marine policy implementation in the context of the WDF, MSFD and MSPD.
* 8 studies on integrating climate resilience, pollution control, and biodiversity into sectoral policies, in the context of agriculture, offshore wind, and fisheries and aquaculture.

- Stakeholder engagement: Delivered recommendations via reports, publications, webinars, and workshops.

- Roadmap development (WP4): Synthesized WP1–3 into three Roadmaps for enhanced cross-compliance (D4.1):
* Offshore wind & biodiversity
* Fisheries & biodiversity
* Marine pollution & agriculture

- Tools & Guidance:
* Developed the Policy Coherence Handbook (D4.2): https://www.policycoherencehandbook.eu/
* Created a Blueprint for strengthened SPS interfaces (D4.3)

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

1. Policy Coherence Handbook, available online through the website: https://www.policycoherencehandbook.eu/
2. Roadmaps that provide recommended actions to enhance policy coherence in the context of offshore wind and biodiversity; fisheries and biodiversity; and marine pollution and agriculture
3. A SPS Blueprint to assess and understand science-policy-society interfaces in the marine domain
4. Seven policy briefs
5. A series of five webinars
6. Currently 18 manuscripts published, submitted and/or in progress
7. Over 30 deliverables, including key findings on horizontal and vertical coherence at the EU and national level, as well as coherence challenges and opportunities at sub-national governance levels in case areas.
8. Nine case studies carried out in the North Sea, Baltic Sea and Mediterranean Sea areas, encompassing six European countries and three regional sea areas.
9. Input to ongoing policy processes (MSFD, MSPD, CFP, Oceans Pact)

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