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86 | RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT

PUBLIC CONSULTATION
Debating the sea

The French National Commission for Public Debate held a conference at

the Monaco Scientific Centre and highlighted the importance of their public
consultation, which may feed into the marine spatial planning process.

“I represent a French institution and here in Monaco
we’re on international turf. So Monaco Ocean
Week is an important opportunity for national and
international approaches to marine spatial planning
to be discussed”, began Étienne Ballan, Regional
Coordinator at the French National Commission for
Public Debate (CNDP), during this two-part event on
20 March 2024.

DEMOCRACY AT WORK
The sea has been the focus of CNDP debates
since 2021, when it was tasked with consulting
the public over plans to build offshore wind farms
in the Mediterranean. Public response during the
consultation phase led the French government to
plan a wider public debate on matters including
national offshore wind development. With the five-
month consultation process having ended in April
2024, the authorities responsible for energy, ecology
and the sea must now respond to all the points
raised, as with every public debate, but are not bound
to comply with the CNDP’s recommendations in their
final decision.

The CNDP is an independent authority that guarantees
the public’s right to information and to participate in
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the development of projects and policies impacting the
PROFILE environment.