In each edition of the MSP Challenge, countries are coded by colours. This is to help users to distance themselves a bit from the real-life countries and assume a more playful mode - one where they are in control and can try out new things. The idea is to make plans for a managerial area without thinking too much about the how the real-life politicians and policy-makers from the actual country might think about it. Thus, the countries profiles are explained to the users for context and objective specification only. It is up to the users to decide what they want to achieve in MSP Challenge and how.
Click on the tab corresponding to the edition you are interested in and check the profile of the yellow country in that edition.
Country Yellow has a relatively small marine presence in the North Sea (large in relation to country size), but has had a strong presence there since the 1960s when oil and gas deposits were found. Fishing has traditionally also had a large presence and commercial fishing is still important but with strong competition with new sectors. The newest on the agenda is green energy forms at sea, particularly wind energy, where country Yellow has been leading in years.
The country Yellow government has a Blue Growth perspective, which means that exploitation of marine resources is prioritized, with fishing and material extraction as historically important activities. At the same time, there is currently talk about phasing out oil- and gas rigs, while there is also focus on protecting the Dogger Bank part in country Yellow sea space.
Country Yellow's case concerns planning for a scenario where oil- and gas rigs are completely phased out over 10 years in favour of areas with renewable energy (both wind, wave and current). At the same time, there is competition with existing sectors (like fishing and shipping) and a need to protect and connect representative key habitats. A current concern is also fishers from countries not partnering in the EU's Common Fisheries Policy, who are difficult to negotiate with. Planning border activities is therefore not easy, and collaboration depends on sectors across borders. Special attention needs to be given to the needs of the following three sectors:
Meanwhile, the country needs to be mindful of international traffic at sea, both shipping lanes and passenger traffic (i.e. should not/cannot be changed). In addition, any national defence needs must be left unchanged. Also environmental conditions and ecological qualities in the area need to be considered, e.g. wind speed, currents, various species, pressures, biodiversity, etc. that may affect any planned activities.
Country Yellow has a relatively small marine presence in the Baltic Sea region geographically speaking. Geopolitically it's a slightly different story, as the country borders westerly oriented countries to the west, and easterly oriented countries to the east. The country itself can be characterised as more westerly oriented. In recent, modern history, the country was politically very dynamic. Still, over the past decades, arguably thanks to its new international alliances, it has become more and more economically prosperous. In the western part, the country's sea area is relatively tranquil and well-protected, while to the east the country's sea area is busy with commercial shipping and related industries.
The country's government wants to strengthen and safeguard the shipping industry, stimulate (marine) tourism, and develop some offshore renewable energy areas, in that order. While there are plenty of shallow waters at this country's disposal, they are relatively close to the coast. The government is concerned about what its own population as well as tourists will think of being able to see wind farms from the coast. New developments are interesting, as long as they are not in the way of the well-established, important sectors.
Consequently, the government is looking for a scenario where current shipping interests in the sea area are fully met, more bathing and boating areas combined with protected areas are developed in the west, and a decent surface area is found for some offshore wind farms using current, conventional technologies. Collaborations with neighbouring countries should be sought after when they make sense, in which case the government will first look to the west.
More internationally, the country needs to be mindful of its geographical position between the west and east, combined with its geopolitical position in the west. The government is not looking for political conflicts, but it expects they might come from mostly from the east. Either way, the government will neither run away from a conflict, nor avoid it at any cost. As the country is a full and relatively happy member of both the EU and NATO, keeping these friends close remains important to this country.
Co-funded by the European Union.