The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) took a significant step in structuring their cooperation on coast guard functions by signing a Tripartite Working Arrangement as foreseen by the amended founding regulations of the three Agencies of October last year.
The agreement sets out the framework for the enhanced synergy between the European agencies which will enable them to support in an effective and cost-efficient way the activities of more than 300 civilian and military authorities in the Member States responsible for carrying out coastguard functions in a wide range of areas such as maritime safety, security, search and rescue, border control, fisheries control, customs control, general law enforcement and environmental protection.
Aligned with their mandates Frontex, EFCA and EMSA will cooperate in sharing maritime information, providing new surveillance and communication services, building capacity, analyzing operational challenges and emerging risks in the maritime domain as well as planning and implementing multipurpose operations.
Tangible results expected from this cooperation will lead to the provision of enhanced services to Member States’ coast guard authorities, improving their overall awareness of the maritime domain and supporting their functions in areas as search and rescue operations, surveillance activities, law enforcement, fisheries control and compliance with maritime regulations.
To improve the capacity of the national coast guard authorities, the three agencies will, if possible, develop guidelines, recommendations and best practice on coastguard functions and organise specialized training events.
Source & Image credit: Frontex
