The EU member states want to make integrated maritime surveillance a reality. They are asking the European Commission to give them a “road map” before the end of next year. They say this in the conclusions adopted by the Council of Ministers on 17 November, a position that supports a statement by the Commission released on 15 October (see Europolitics3840). The Commission is therefore requested to “develop the idea,” which would include the states’ military as well as civilian authorities. The road map, which will be presented in 2010, would then be updated a year later, taking into account the results of projects in this area ⁽¹⁾ and experience gained from operations linked to the European Security and Defence Policy (ESPD).

The principles outlined in the Commission’s statement are to link the different consumer communities, to establish a technical framework for future interoperability and integration, to promote the exchange of information between civil and military authorities, and research the obstacles to the exchange of information currently existing between Community and national legislations. The Council also supports the idea of integrated maritime surveillance, asking the Commission to improve coordination between the various relevant sectors and to “give priority to working on a general framework”.

The Council also underlines the value of putting in place an appropriate legal framework to define the different types of data concerned, the limits of these exchanges and those concerned. This framework would respect the fundamental rules of data protection, the principles of confidentiality for commercial information and data security. The coordination with relevant EU agencies ⁽²⁾ will be intensified, permitting notably a move towards a more effective use of systems already in place.

The necessary financial resources will be determined before the end of 2013.

The Council conclusions are available at www.europolitics.info > Search = 260913

⁽¹⁾ Two pilot projects are in the process of being launched. One aims to test the capacity of six Mediterranean and Atlantic member states to exchange information, notably on border control and the struggle against smuggling. The other involves the Baltic and North Sea states.
⁽²⁾ European Maritime Safety Agency, Community Fisheries Control Agency, European Environment Agency, European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (FRONTEX), EUROPOL, European Defence Agency and European Union Satellite Centre