Network of STRAits
In November 2010, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between 15 local authorities and organisations bordering 8 European straits: the Strait of Dover, the Strait of Messina, the Kvarken, the Strait of Sicily, the Gulf of Finland, the Strait of Otranto, the Fehmarnbelt and the Strait of Bonifacio. This MoU defines two main objectives for the partnership: gaining recognition of the European straits' specificities at national and European levels and enhancing cooperation projects between the partners.
Indeed, the straits of Europe share several common issues (transport, economic development, maritime safety…), which all have an impact on the natural heritage of the straits. The partners have thus decided to exchange experience in order to be able to implement more efficient and environment-friendly policies at strait level.
NOSTRA aims at showing how integrated governance tools (bi-national ones) can help improving the way strait areas are managed.
In particular, the objective is to ensure the economic development of the territory without endangering the biodiversity and environment. The preservation of biodiversity was identified as the nodal point of all issues straits have to face. Moreover, it is foreseen that an integrated management of the area is the proper answer to most problems faced by the local authorities bordering the straits.
In this framework, 16 partners bordering 8 straits of Europe have joined in the partnership in order to share experience, good practices and analyse the governance tools already implemented or in project. This will be done through several events such as study visits, workshops, seminars, forums and conferences.

The results of the activities will be widely shared at local level thanks to the organisation of regular territorial meetings with local stakeholders.
Those meetings will also be opportunities to identify good practices and know the local actors’ expectations. This will thus ensure a proper top-down and bottom-up approach.

The communication will also be done through a website, flyers and a good practices and policy recommendations guide.
Besides, all partners will prepare implementation plans in which they will explain what type of practices they will use and implement at local and strait level and how. This should enable the partners to directly benefit from the project by adapting their own policies according to the knowledge gained.
Another aim of the project is to bring a contribution to the improvement of the European policies regarding the straits governance.
NOSTRA will also enhance the European Straits Initiative (ESI) which will be able to lean its influence actions on concrete basis. The project might also enable the ESI to widen its partnership to other straits.