(c) identify the trans-boundary effects of maritime spatial plans and integrated coastal management strategies on the marine waters and coastal zones under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of third countries in the same marine region or sub-region and related coastal zones and deal with them in cooperation with the competent authorities of these countries in accordance with Articles 12 and 13;

Finally, cultural and archaeological heritage in the coastal area and seabed constitutes an important element both in term of tourism development and common identity.

6. When assessing the technical and financial capabilities of an applicant for a licence, special attention shall be paid to any environmentally sensitive marine and coastal environments, in particular ecosystems which play an important role in mitigation and adaptation to climate change, such as salt marshes and sea grass beds, and marine protected areas, such as special areas of conservation pursuant to the Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (21), special protection areas pursuant to the Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 ...[+++]November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds (22), and marine protected areas as agreed by the Union or Member States concerned within the framework of any international or regional agreements to which they are a party.

Technology such as the gathering and analysis of high resolution satellite images, air patrolling, the operation of unmanned platforms, the detection and analysis of underwater sounds, which so far are typical defence capabilities, are increasingly perceived as being valuable for civilian use.

Since programmes of measures executed under marine strategies will be effective only if they are devised on the basis of a sound knowledge of the state of the marine environment in a particular area and are tailored as closely as possible to the needs of the waters concerned in the case of each Member State and from the general perspective of the marine region or subregion concerned, provision should be made for the preparation at national level of an appropriate framework, including marine research and monitoring operations, for informed policymaking.

Most importantly, the proposed Marine Strategy Directive introduces marine planning and management units in the form of Marine Regions and Sub-regions[26].