The maritime security strategy promotes international peace and security, as well as respect for international rules and principles, while ensuring the sustainability of the oceans and the protection of biodiversity.
Objectives
- protect EU interests at sea - citizens, economy, infrastructure, and borders
- protect our natural resources and the marine environment
- uphold international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
- react promptly and effectively to growing threats (e.g., cyber and hybrid threats)
- ensure relevant training and education to counter threats (e.g., cyber skills)
Actions
Step up activities at sea
- organise an annual naval exercise at EU level
- reinforce existing EU naval operations
- develop further coastguard in sea basins around the EU
- expand the Coordinated Maritime Presences concept to new maritime areas of interest
Cooperate with partners
- deepen EU-NATO cooperation
- enhance partnerships with likeminded countries, regional and international organisations
- deploy EU liaison officers to maritime information centres in non-EU countries
- promote dialogue and best practices through the coast guard function forums
Enhance maritime domain situational awareness
- strengthen the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE) and MARSUR
- reinforce coastal and offshore patrol vessel surveillance
Manage risks and threats
- conduct regular live maritime exercises involving civil and military entities
- monitor and protect critical maritime infrastructure and ships from physical and cyber threats
- tackle unexploded ordnance and mines at sea
- develop further awareness and preparedness to tackle threats linked to climate change and environmental degradation
Boost capabilities
- develop common requirements and concepts for defence technologies in the maritime domain
- step up work on projects such as the European Patrol Corvette or improving anti-submarine capabilities
Educate and train
- boost hybrid and cyber security qualifications notably on the civilian side
- conduct training and joint exercises open to non-EU partners
Next steps
The Commission and the High Representative will issue a progress report within three years after the endorsement of the updated strategy by the Council.
Background
In 2014, the Council adopted the first EU maritime security strategy, with an accompanying action plan. Since then, EU countries have worked with the European Commission and the EEAS to update the strategy and action plan in order to better respond to emerging threats and situations.
The revised strategy on maritime security builds on the previous strategy, a joint communication from March 2023 and extensive input from EU countries. It was approved by the Council in October 2023.
Documents
24 October 2023 Council conclusions on the Revised EU Maritime Security Strategy (EUMSS) and its Action Plan
European Union Maritime Security Strategy
- 3 MARCH 2021
Media
Euronews Ocean: Europe’s coast guards are preparing for the worst-case scenarios to ensure the best outcomes
Europe’s coast guards face many risks to keep our seas secure and safe. Good coordination in an emergency can mean the difference between life and death. To refine their skills and their efficiency, the guards regularly conduct exercises such as COASTEX.
Euronews Ocean: The ticking environmental time bombs lying on Europe's seafloor
In this episode, we’ll meet German bomb divers and join scientists from EMFF-funded BASTA and ExPloTect projects onboard a research cruise in the Baltic Sea to test new methods and technologies allowing to locate and map unexploded munitions on the seafloor. We’ll also visit a software development centre in Kiel, Germany, that relies on historic information, artificial intelligence and fusion of marine data for the detection and identification of munition in our oceans.