Brussels, 27/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - In Luxembourg on Tuesday 24 June, the member states approved the framework of the European maritime security strategy, the aim of which is to structure the EU's response to the challenges represented by the security of the maritime channels used to transport most of its intra-European and external trade and supplies, and which lie on its external borders.
The aim of this strategy is to protect the interests of the EU, which could be threatened in the maritime area by organised crime and terrorism, and to fight the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and environmental threats. “My aim is to rethink the maritime economy, which goes hand in hand with security, because nobody in the world of business will invest in maritime activities unless offshore installations and maritime channels are safe”, said Commissioner Maria Damanaki (Maritime Affairs and Fisheries). “And to do this will take a common approach”, she added. Enhancing cooperation, therefore, is the watchword in this strategy.
The task is an enormous one. When a German helicopter flies over a Spanish vessel in the Mediterranean, it cannot enter into direct communication with it. It has to go through Berlin, which then contacts Madrid, which then forwards the message to its operations centre in Barcelona. This fictional but realistic scenario represents just one of the challenges this strategy aims to address. For the 23 member states of the EU with a coastline (representing 70% of the external borders of the EU), for instance, there are 316 competent maritime authorities. There is no common standard for radio communications and there are eight information exchange systems between the member states, with no interoperability between them.
The text adopted first of all lists a number of principles on which this strategy is based: - involvement of all stakeholders, by means of a multi-sector (civilian, military, public and private) and multilateral approach (cooperation with NATO, the United Nations); - respect for the competences of the member states; - governance based on the law of the sea. It then goes on to describe five areas for action: - use of resources under the common security and defence policy (CSDP); - better information sharing, including by means of developing a common software tool; - development of capacities (dual technologies, cooperation on standardisation and certification, work on interoperability, joint training and exercises);- risk management and protection of critical infrastructure, including a joint risk analysis; - research, innovation and training.
This new strategy will be added to in the second half of 2014. The Italian Presidency of the Council of the EU will work on devising a timetable and laying down the conditions for all of these actions. Adoption of an action plan will follow in December. (JK)