The European Council and European Parliament have reached a provisional political agreement to enhance the European Maritime Safety Agency’s (EMSA) mission. This initiative aims to clarify EMSA’s role amid evolving maritime safety challenges, including cybersecurity and hybrid threats. Polish Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak emphasized that revising EMSA’s mandate will better reflect its current and future responsibilities, ensuring the agency remains effective.
Established in 2002 following maritime incidents, EMSA’s original mission focused on ensuring maritime safety, protecting the environment, and addressing sustainability. The agency collaborates with coast guards and supports maritime surveillance and digital services. The new regulation aims to provide a robust legal framework for EMSA to tackle maritime safety, pollution prevention, decarbonization, and maritime awareness.
Additionally, the agreement allows EMSA to undertake extra tasks at the request of member states and the commission, ensuring it can adapt to future developments in the maritime sector. The provisional agreement will require endorsement from member states and the European Parliament before formal adoption.
This agreement concludes the legislative work on a broader maritime safety package, which also included updates on flag state and port state control, maritime accident investigations, and stricter pollution regulations.
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