99. Welcomes the recognition by the Commission that a comprehensive system of spatial planning is necessary in order to ensure a stable regulatory environment and a legally binding basis for decision making; considers that an essential criterion for effective ecosystem-based spatial planning must be to organise activities in such a way as to reduce the impact of environmentally damaging activities on ecologically sensitive areas while simultaneously using resources in all other areas in an ecologically sustainable manner; in this context insists on the use of the Strategic Environmental Assessment instrument under Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2001 on the assessment of the effects of certain ...[+++] plans and programmes on the environment ; stresses that any system of marine spatial planning at EU level must add value to national systems and plans, where they exist, be based on the level of marine regions and sub-regions as proposed by the Marine Strategy Directive and be a tool to further the use of an ecosystem-based approach to marine management and the objectives of good environmental status under the Marine Strategy Directive;

99. Welcomes the recognition by the Commission that a comprehensive system of spatial planning is necessary in order to ensure a stable regulatory environment and a legally binding basis for decision making; considers that an essential criterion for effective ecosystem-based spatial planning must be to organise activities in such a way as to reduce the impact of environmentally damaging activities on ecologically sensitive areas while simultaneously using resources in all other areas in an ecologically sustainable manner; in this context insists on the use of the Strategic Environmental Assessment instrument under Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2001 on the assessment of the effects of certain ...[+++] plans and programmes on the environment ; stresses that any system of marine spatial planning at EU level must add value to national systems and plans, where they exist, be based on the level of marine regions and sub-regions as proposed by the Marine Strategy Directive and be a tool to further the use of an ecosystem-based approach to marine management and the objectives of good environmental status under the Marine Strategy Directive;

In developing this strategy, the Member States might consider the appropriateness of: developing a national strategic plan for the coast, using spatial or land use planning instruments to promote integrated planning and management (including instruments that give priority to coastal dependent uses in the foreshore area), land purchase mechanisms and declarations of public domain, developing contractual or voluntary agreements with coastal zone users, harnessing economic and fiscal incentives (compatible with Community legislation), and working through regional developme ...[+++]nt planning mechanisms.

In developing this strategy, the Member States shall consider the appropriateness of: developing one or more national strategic plans for the coast, using spatial or land use planning instruments to promote integrated planning and management (including instruments that give priority to coastal dependent uses in the foreshore area), land purchase mechanisms and declarations of public domain, developing contractual or voluntary agreements with coastal zone users, harnessing economic and fiscal incentives (compatible with Community legislation), and working through regional developme ...[+++]nt planning mechanisms.

However, a limited number of differences will remain, as Phare and the Structural Funds are still quite different in their objectives and procedures.The participation of candidate countries in INTERREG III B will strengthen co-operation between them and Member States, and of their regions - including border regions - on regional development and land-use planning; co-operation may cover the provision of information for national, regional or local authorities on regional and land-use planning policy, and, where appropriate, the provision of assistance for the formulation of such policy.

-in the regions or areas designated under objective 2, investment relating to the regeneration of areas suffering from industrial decline, including inner cities, and those whose modernization or laying out provides the basis for the creation or development of economic activity,