Brussels, 04/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - On 22 December, representatives of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), the European agency for management of operational cooperation at the external borders of EU member states (Frontex), and the Community Fisheries Control Agency (CFCA) concluded and signed a cooperation agreement in the field of maritime surveillance. The three agencies will work in their respective areas but the agreement signed will, if necessary, allow them to jointly use assets such as the maritime observation satellites used by EMSA. These satellites may therefore serve as a support for the protection of external maritime borders or for fisheries control, allowing surveillance of migratory flows and the monitoring of shipping. The agreement also provides for cooperation in the exchange of information and of data on matters of common interest, the exploration of synergies in the use of information and maritime surveillance systems, as well as expanded mutual collaboration between the agencies in areas such as coordination of inspections, research and development, training, etc. (A.By./transl.jl)