The European Commission has today opened an infringement procedure against Portugal for failing to implement a directive establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning, with Lisbon having two months to rectify the situation. Directive 2014/89 establishes a common approach for EU countries to plan their maritime space, with a deadline of March 2021 to draw up maritime spatial plans. Portugal is way overdue. The framework will determine where human activities can take place “to satisfy various ecological, economic and social objectives”.
