EU steps up defence against maritime threats

(BRUSSELS) - The EU Commission and foreign policy chief adopted a joint strategy Friday to boost EU maritime security to ensure peaceful use of the seas and safeguard the maritime domain against new threats.

Their strategy to promote maritime security, both civilian and military is to be implemented through an updated Action Plan. With over 80% of global trade is seaborne and about two-thirds of the world's oil and gas is either extracted at sea or transported by sea, and up to 99% of global data flows transmitted through undersea cables, the plan adapts to increasing new threats.

These include long-standing illicit activities, such as piracy, armed robbery at sea, smuggling of migrants and trafficking of human beings, arms and narcotics, as well as terrorism remain critical challenges, says the Commission. New and evolving threats must also be dealt with increasing geopolitical competition, climate change and degradation of the marine environment and hybrid and cyber-attacks.

And Russia's military aggression against Ukraine is a forceful reminder that the EU needs to enhance its security and step up its capacity to act not only on its own territory and its own waters, but also in its neighbourhood and beyond, the EU executive adds.

The Joint Communication and associated Action Plan specify several integrated actions that will deliver on the EU's interests. To do so, the EU will step up its action under six strategic objectives:

• Step up activities at sea: actions include organising naval exercises at EU level, developing further coastguard operations in European sea basins, designating new maritime areas of interests for the implementation of the Coordinated Maritime Presences concept (a tool to enhance coordination of Member States' naval and air assets present in specific maritime areas) and reinforcing security inspections in EU ports.
• Cooperate with partners: actions include deepening EU-NATO cooperation and stepping up cooperation with all relevant international partners to uphold the rules-based order at sea, notably the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
• Lead on maritime domain awareness. Actions include reinforcing coastal and offshore patrol vessel surveillance and strengthening the Common information sharing environment (CISE). This is to make sure the national and EU authorities involved can exchange information in a secure way.
• Manage risks and threats: actions include conducting regular live maritime exercises involving civilian and military actors, monitoring and protecting critical maritime infrastructure and ships (including passenger ships) from physical and cyber threats, and tackling unexploded ordnance and mines at sea.
• Boost capabilities: actions include developing common requirements for defence technologies in the maritime domain, stepping up work on projects such as the European Patrol Corvette (new class of warship), and improving our anti-submarine capabilities.
• Educate and train by boosting hybrid and cyber security qualifications notably on the civilian side and conducting training programmes open to non-EU partners.

Factsheet on the updated EU Maritime Security Strategy

Joint Communication on an enhanced EU Maritime Security Strategy 

Action Plan 'An enhanced EU Maritime Security Strategy for evolving maritime threats'

Questions and Answers on the EU Maritime Security Strategy

EU Maritime Security Strategy