Abstract
This report sets out seven policy recommendations derived from analysing the institutional setting and governance processes in Europe’s Regional Seas. Guided by the question who implements what, why and how, analysis focused on the policy context in Europe’s regional seas, in particular the implementation of policy responses and the processes associated with it. Historical trajectories were analysed for selected organisations and transnational institutional settings in the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. This was complemented by case study research dealing with specific cases of planning and governance mechanisms. A comparative approach was chosen to allow an aggregation of results.