Brussels, 13/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 12 September, the European Parliament (EP) said that it was in favour of the creation of “a truly European coastguard function”, on the basis of the experience gained by Frontex. This should be one of the key elements of a “new integrated maritime security strategy”, said the MEPs, in their adoption, by 436 votes to 163, with 33 abstentions, of the report on the “maritime dimension of the common security and defence policy”, at the plenary session in Strasbourg.
The starting point of the work of the rapporteur, MEP Ana Gomes (S&D, Portugal), was a simple observation: the integrated maritime policy of the EU (2007) does not take sufficient account of the security angle, whilst the European security strategy (2003) does not develop the maritime dimension sufficiently. A new maritime strategy is therefore needed, not necessarily in order to develop new instruments, even though the option was discussed, but mainly to promote cooperation between the member states and between the EU and NATO. The pooling and sharing of existing capacity are also necessary. Parliament calls for the European Council of December 2013 to adopt an integrated maritime strategy of this kind. (JK/transl.fl)