As part of the preparation for the second implementation report of the European Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (2014/89/EU), the European Commission (DG MARE and CINEA) has commissioned a consortium comprising Milieu Consulting, Ecorys, and SML to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of its application by the 22 coastal Member States.

This study follows on from the first implementation report published by the Commission in 2022 and covers developments since that date. It also takes place within a rapidly evolving political context, marked by the adoption of the European Pact for the Oceans in June 2025 and the preparation of the future Ocean Act, which will be based on a revision of the Directive.

The works were carried out between March and November 2025, with the aim of analysing the progress of maritime spatial planning at the European level, identifying best practices and persistent challenges, and formulating recommendations to strengthen the coherence and effectiveness of maritime spatial planning in the European Union.

Within the consortium, SML's contribution was particularly focused on assessing the implementation of the Directive in France. SML drew on its expertise of the Atlantic and Mediterranean maritime basins to conduct regional analyses and inform the study's conclusions.