The European Commission decided today, Thursday, to refer Greece at the Court of Justice of the European Unionbecause it did not ensure the correct implementation of the Community directive on marine spatial planning.

The directive sets out a common approach for EU member states to plan their marine areas. Marine spatial planning aims to organize human activities in marine areas in such a way as to achieve various ecological, economic and social objectives. These goals include the development of a sustainable blue economy, the sustainable use of marine resources and the maintenance of healthy marine ecosystems and biodiversity. The correct transposition of the directive into national law is necessary for the correct achievement of these objectives within the framework of the European Green Agreement.

The directive requires EU coastal Member States to draw up marine spatial plans by 31 March 2021 at the latest and to notify those plans to the Commission and other Member States concerned within three months of their publication. However, Greece has not yet drawn up and submitted its maritime spatial plans to the Commission.

Therefore, following the letter of warning sent in December 2021 and the reasoned opinion in April 2023, the Commission refers Greece to the Court of Justice of the European Union.