Assessing the role and functioning of Science Policy Society Interfaces in supporting the coherent implementation of EU Green Deal-related marine policies

Science-policy-society interfaces (SPSI) are defined as social processes that encompass relations between scientists and other actors in the policy process, allowing for exchange, co-evolution, and joint construction of knowledge to enrich decision-making (Van Den Hove, 2007). When optimal, SPSIs support sound policy formulation, implementation, and adaptation processes, and can help address different challenges, such as incomplete knowledge, unpredictability, uncertainty, and ambiguity. In this way, SPSIs can improve coherence and cross-compliance in ocean governance. Science, in this framework, is responsive to societal needs (including values and concerns), to public engagement, and to the role of society as a provider of data, information, and knowledge.

CrossGov is a Horizon Europe-funded project aiming to evaluate how the coherence and cross-compliance of marine-related policies and legislation affect the ability to realise the European Union Green Deal (EGD) goals for the protection of marine ecosystems and biodiversity, zero pollution, and nature-based climate adaptation and mitigation. In the frame of this project, we analysed how efficiently and effectively SPSIs can contribute to sound policy-making and decision-making and enhance policy coherence and cross-compliance.

For this aim, a comprehensive, flexible and original methodology for SPSI self-assessment and the identification of gaps and related solutions was developed. This methodology can be applied to single or multiple marine policies and proposes a step-by-step operational procedure for the analysis. At the core of the methodology are 6 Building Blocks, i.e. the main constituent elements of SPSI that are potentially relevant to EGD-related marine legislation and other policies at different scales, ranging from data to assessments, models of scientific advice and knowledge transfer mechanisms, SPSI platforms, competence framework and funding and resources.

The methodology was applied to assess SPSIs both at the policy formulation (on specific policy clusters) and policy implementation stages (through case studies in different EU sea basins). The aim was to research: (i) how SPSIs are regulated and what scope they are designed for; (ii) under which conditions scientific knowledge is taken up in policy formulation/implementation; (iii) which tools and approaches supporting the transfer of knowledge for policy-making are prevalent in various policy areas; (iv) which practical challenges arise for SPSIs in a variety of institutional, cultural and policy contexts; (v) how these challenges affect directly or indirectly policy coherence and what are solutions for addressing them.

The analysis was co-developed involving experts and stakeholders, from local to EU. It highlighted the diversity of existing science-for-policy ecosystems, of practices related to SPSI functioning, of (likely) effectiveness and their impacts as well as of solutions that can strengthen SPSI so as to best contribute to policy coherence. It highlighted the added-value and relevance of the proposed SPSI assessment for both ex-ante and ex-post (single and multiple) policy evaluation.

The portfolio of solutions and recommendations to respond to the needs identified in the analysis is being developed through a co-creation process engaging SPSI experts at the EU level through focus groups and will be compiled in a structured blueprint, to then emphasize how better SPSI may contribute to effective ocean governance.