25/01/2023 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission’s contact group on maritime search and rescue will meet again on 31 January, the Commission told EUROPE on Wednesday 25 January. It will bring together experts from the Member States and Schengen associated states, but as of 25 January, the participation of NGOs had not yet been decided. This contact group has not met since the beginning of 2021, but the quarrel between Paris and Rome in November over the disembarkation of migrants rescued by the SOS Méditerranée ship Ocean Viking has put the need for coordination back on the agenda (see EUROPE 13071/1). The Commission had announced that it wanted to relaunch this contact group. In principle, this structure may involve the various EU agencies, the International Maritime Organization, NGOs, shipowners and academics. (SP)