Marine Spatial Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria 2021-2035.

The Council of Ministers approved the Maritime Spatial Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria with a time horizon until 2035. The adoption of Maritime Spatial Plans is mandatory for all EU landlocked countries. With the approval of the Marine Spatial Plan, Bulgaria makes a strong bid to join the countries that have complied with their obligation under Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning. The adoption and implementation of the Marine Spatial Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria represents a step towards a more sustainable use of the Black Sea and its more effective conservation. The plan will allow to make optimal use of the natural assets and resources in the Black Sea area and to create conditions for the development of all economic activities in compliance with environmental standards. It does not foresee any change in the way the coastal areas are permanently used, nor any investment initiatives or new construction under the spatial planning regulatory framework. The application of an ecosystem approach will contribute to the promotion of the sustainable development and growth of marine and coastal economies and the sustainable use of marine and coastal resources . The requirements to integrate marine spatial planning with integrated coastal zone management, also in order to explore the interactions between sea and land are here horizontally implemented.
The territorial scope of the Maritime Spatial Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria which is subject of detailed study is identified in its adjacent coastal zone by fourteen municipalities, which border in the east on the Black Sea and form part of three districts (Dobrich, Burgas and Varna) (N-S). These are the municipalities of Shabla, Kavarna, Balchik, Aksakovo, Varna, Avren, Dolni Chiflik, Byala, Nessebar, Pomorie, Burgas, Sozopol, Primorsko and Tsarevo. The territorial distribution of the population, which is one of key remarks in this text, is determined by the natural population change (number of births and deaths), as well as by internal and external migration. The changes in the administrative and territorial division of Bulgaria (such as merger of settlements, transfer of settlements from one municipality to another) also have a purely statistical impact on the territorial distribution of the population.