Coordinated Maritime Presences: Council extends implementation in the Gulf of Guinea for two years and establishes a new Maritime Area of Interest in the North-Western Indian Ocean

The Council today approved two sets of conclusions on the Coordinated Maritime Presences (CMP) concept.

In its first set of conclusions the Council welcomes the initial achievements within the framework of the CMP pilot case in the Gulf of Guinea, and extends its implementation by two years. The CMP concept in the Gulf of Guinea has proven to be an effective and useful instrument, contributing to enhanced maritime security, and reflecting the EU’s growing role as a maritime security provider. The conclusions also encourage the further strengthening of the CMP concept through close cooperation between the EU and Western and Central African States.

Building on this positive example, in its second set of conclusions, the Council today also decided to launch the implementation of the CMP concept in the North-Western Indian Ocean by establishing a Maritime Area of Interest covering the maritime area from the Strait of Hormuz to the Southern Tropic and from the North of the Red Sea towards the centre of the Indian Ocean. The implementation of the CMP concept in the North-Western Indian Ocean will complement both the EU’s and EU member states’ activities in the region, while respecting the mandate and chain of command of EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA.

The CMP concept aims to increase the EU’s capacity as a reliable partner and maritime security provider, offering a greater European engagement, ensuring continuous maritime presence and outreach in designated Maritime Areas of Interest as established by the Council, as well as promoting international cooperation and partnership at sea.

The Council will review both the implementation of the CMP Concept in the Gulf of Guinea and in the North-Western Indian Ocean by February 2024.

• Council Conclusions extending and enhancing the implementation of the Coordinated Maritime Presences Concept of the Gulf of Guinea, 21 February 2022
• Council Conclusions on the Implementation of the Coordinated Maritime Presences Concept in the North-Western Indian Ocean, 21 February 2022
• Gulf of Guinea: Council conclusions launching the pilot case for the Coordinated Maritime Presences concept, 25 January 2021
• Indo-Pacific: Council adopts conclusions on EU strategy for cooperation, 19 April 2021
• Coordinated Maritime Presences (factsheet, EEAS)