CAP’M: a study by the MOT on the governance of Franco-Italian marine protected areas

The study has led to the formulation of concrete proposals for establishing shared and sustainable governance to promote enhanced cross-border cooperation between France and Italy, particularly with regard to the conservation of the Cap Martin and Capo Mortola marine protected areas. The MOT, together with its Italian partner, has drawn up a joint assessment as part of a joint management strategy, enabling the development of several scenarios for long-term governance to formalise cross-border cooperation between the relevant French and Italian stakeholders. The proposed legal instruments take into account both the institutional partnership, which is a prerequisite for formalising this cooperation, and the conservation objectives already identified, the joint implementation of which is central to the conservation needs of the cross-border marine area under study.

An analysis of the solutions best suited to the local context, involving the relevant stakeholders at local and national levels within an operational European framework, has led to the development of concrete governance frameworks. Among the proposals put forward is the signing of one or more flexible agreements tailored to cross-border cooperation between the marine protected areas concerned. This evolving governance structure could, in the longer term, lead to the creation of a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC), enabling the partners involved to speak with one voice, particularly through European projects and enhanced visibility at European level.