With 570 votes in favour, 20 against, and 14 abstentions, the European Parliament adopted its negotiating position on the revision of the mandate for the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) (see EUROPE 13309/5) during its plenary session on Tuesday, 12 March.
MEPs suggest strengthening EMSA’s international and security role by involving it more in the International Maritime Organization’s meetings and by providing EU countries maritime situational awareness on new geopolitical challenges, such as Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the resulting security threats for certain Member States.
MEPs also believe that EMSA should be better equipped to help Member States with the green transition, situational awareness, and training on crew working conditions.
In its position, the European Parliament also wants to increase financial support for EMSA. “This infusion of resources empowers EMSA and stakeholders to implement robust measures, fortifying our seas against environmental threats and promoting economic resilience in the maritime sector”, rapporteur Cláudia Monteiro De Aguiar (EPP, Portuguese) commented in a press release.
On the EU Council’s side of things, transport ministers will discuss this text—the last in the ‘maritime safety’ package—in June (see EUROPE 13363/35).
Read the final report: https://aeur.eu/f/b9o (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)