European Fisheries Control Agency: cooperation

The European Parliament adopted by 563 votes to 95, with 50 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 768/2005 establishing a Community Fisheries Control Agency.

Parliament’s position, adopted at first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure, amended the Commission proposal.

It stated that one of the missions of the Community Fisheries Control Agency is to cooperate with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and the European Maritime Safety Agency, each within their mandate, to support the national authorities carrying out coastguard functions, as set out in Article 7a, by providing services, information, equipment and training as well as by coordinating multipurpose operations.

The Agency shall support national authorities by:

• enhancing the exchange of information and cooperation on coast guard functions including by analysing operational challenges and emerging risks in the maritime domain;
• capacity sharing by planning and implementation of multipurpose operations and the sharing of assets and other capabilities, to the extent those are coordinated by the agencies and with the agreement of the competent authorities of the Member States concerned.

A working arrangement shall determine the modalities of the cooperation and shall be approved by the Management Board of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and the Administrative Boards of the European Maritime Safety Agency and the European Fisheries Control Agency.

The Commission shall, in close cooperation with the Member States, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, the European Maritime Safety Agency and the European Fisheries Control Agency, make available a practical handbook on European cooperation on coastguard functions, containing guidelines, recommendations and best practices for the exchange of information. The Commission shall adopt the handbook in the form of a recommendation in close cooperation with the Member States, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, the European Maritime Safety Agency and the European Fisheries Control Agency.