Coast guard cooperation: 3 EU Agencies strengthen cooperation in support of Member States

Today an important step is taken in further developing the mandate set out in the 2016 European Border Coast Guard Regulation.  The Commission welcomes the renewed cooperation between the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) on supporting Member States’ coast guards in their activities. The 3 agencies signed yesterday a new working arrangement allowing them to continue working together to support national authorities on safety and security at sea including search and rescue, border management, fisheries control, customs activities, law enforcement and environmental protection. The working arrangement notably covers cooperation on risk analysis and information exchange on threats in the maritime domain as well as compliance with fundamental rights, data protection requirements and access rights. The first working arrangement between Frontex, the EMSA and the EFCA entered into force in March 2017 for a duration of 4 years. Since 2017, the 3 agencies have been working closely together, exchanging relevant operational information, data from Earth observation instruments and providing state-of-the-art technologies and training for Member States authorities.