EFCA, EMSA and Frontex co-hosted the 7th Annual European Coast Guard Event in Tenerife
The European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) hosted the seventh Annual European Coast Guard Event from 25-27 June 2024 in Tenerife, Spain. Co-organised with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), the event brought together around 100 representatives responsible for coast guard functions from 22 EU Member States, along with representatives from the European Commission and the three EU Agencies.
A Platform for Collaboration
The Annual European Coast Guard Event serves as a key forum for consultation and feedback on the Agencies’ cross-sectoral and cross-border cooperation activities. EFCA, EMSA, and Frontex work collaboratively to support Member States in implementing various coast guard functions, including fisheries control, maritime safety, border control, and search and rescue operations. These efforts are coordinated under the framework of the European Coast Guard Cooperation.
Focus Areas for 2024
This year’s event focused on three main topics currently being developed and implemented with Member States’ authorities:
- Multipurpose Maritime Operations (MMOs): MMOs are being rolled out across different sea basins, providing enhanced technical and operational assistance to Member States by coordinating operational activities.
- Exchange Programme for National Authorities Implementing Coast Guard Functions: Led by EFCA in close cooperation with EMSA and Frontex, this programme involved 21 coast guard authorities and entities from nine Member States (Belgium, Croatia, Finland, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain) and Iceland, offering a total of 128 places as hosts.
- Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE): Led by EMSA, CISE has now entered the operational phase, enhancing information sharing among coast guard functions.
Celebrating Sustainability
The event also highlighted the Greening Award Initiative, celebrating sustainability actions undertaken by coast guard authorities across Europe. Awards were presented in three categories: Greening Operations, Outreach and Awareness, and Greening at Work. Details on the winning projects can be found at coastguard.europa.eu.
Acknowledging Achievements
Susan Steele, Executive Director of the EFCA, praised the achievements of the interagency cooperation: “Since 2017, the three partner EU Agencies in the Maritime Domain have established a unique cooperation framework involving their respective Member State competent authorities and the European Commission. After seven years, we are now at full speed in terms of our cooperation with very concrete examples. It is clear that the European Cooperation on Coast Guard Functions is an added value for Member States’ fisheries control authorities and for EFCA. This will also benefit the needed future developments under the revised EU fisheries control system.”
The Annual European Coast Guard Event continues to be a vital platform for enhancing cooperation and ensuring that Europe’s coast guard functions are supported by robust, collaborative frameworks and cutting-edge initiatives.