On Tuesday, 24 October, the Council of the EU approved the Revised EU Maritime Security Strategy and its Action Plan.
The EU Council explains in its press release that the aim of the revision is to ensure that the EU has a wide range of effective tools at its disposal so that it can contend with new and evolving security threats and challenges. In particular, these include growing strategic competition for power and resources in the sea basins around the EU and beyond, environmental degradation, and hybrid attacks and cyberattacks targeting maritime infrastructures.
The Revised EU Maritime Security Strategy and its Action Plan were drawn up based on a joint communication by the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy that was published in March 2023 (see EUROPE 13139/9).
It is structured around six strategic objectives, which have been translated into around 150 concrete actions in the action plan. The EU intends to step up activities at sea, notably through maritime security exercises and by reinforcing existing EU naval operations (Atalanta and Irini).
The EU also wants to raise maritime domain awareness further—by improving the collection and exchange of information among the various civilian and military authorities responsible for monitoring and surveillance activities—and to improve the collective resilience and preparedness of the EU and its Member States to manage various maritime security risks and threats.
Two other strategic objectives concern the development of civilian and military capabilities and education and training.
Finally, the strategy highlights strengthening partnerships with like-minded countries and with regional and international organisations.
The strategy’s implementation will be evaluated in 3 years.
See the conclusions on the strategy and action plan: https://aeur.eu/f/984 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)