Skip to content
Adopted text

European Maritime Safety Agency and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002

TA-9-2024-0134 · P9_TA(2024)0134 · PE753.514

Official HTML ↗ PDF DOCX
✦ In shortFull text
✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation on the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) sets out its tasks, governance and financing, covering maritime safety, sustainability, decarbonisation, security, surveillance and digitalisation. The Agency assists Member States and the Commission in implementing EU maritime law, with special attention to the fishing sector, and reports every three years on safety, environmental impact and decarbonisation progress. It establishes a Management Board with Member State and Commission representatives, plus non-voting industry professionals and European Parliament observers, and an Executive Board to support it. The Agency may charge fees for services, with the Commission setting the methodology via delegated acts and the amounts via implementing acts.

Key points

  1. The Agency's objectives include promoting high maritime safety, reducing accidents, enhancing security, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, preventing pollution, and supporting digitalisation and integrated surveillance.
  2. The Agency provides technical support, training, and capacity building to Member States, and may issue non-binding guidance after consulting the Commission.
  3. It monitors maritime safety, conducts risk analysis, and presents a report to the Commission every three years with recommendations.
  4. The Agency assists in implementing directives on flag State obligations, port State control, accident investigation, passenger ship safety, and recognised organisations, including developing databases and training programmes.
  5. It supports pollution response, operates CleanSeaNet, assists with port reception facilities, monitors environmental impacts like lost containers and underwater noise, and reports every three years on reducing environmental impact.
  6. The Agency monitors decarbonisation measures, assists with FuelEU and EU ETS implementation, and reports every three years on decarbonisation progress.
  7. It provides technical assistance for maritime security inspections and helps build cyber resilience by preparing guidelines and facilitating information exchange.
  8. The Agency operates a 24/7 centre for maritime situational awareness, supports crisis response, and assists with Copernicus and CISE.
  9. It facilitates digitalisation by promoting electronic certificates, maintaining the European Maritime Single Window environment, and assisting Member States with digital registries.
  10. The Agency carries out visits and inspections in Member States, with reports sent to the Commission and the Member State concerned.
  11. It cooperates with other EU agencies on coast guard functions, including sharing information, surveillance, training, and multipurpose operations.
  12. The Agency may provide technical assistance to third countries and international organisations, and its Management Board adopts an international relations strategy.

Who is affected

  • Member States: receive technical, operational and scientific assistance from the Agency to implement EU maritime law, including training and capacity building.
  • The fishing sector: the Agency must pay special attention to its safety and green transition needs.
  • Port State control inspectors and flag State surveyors: benefit from training and professional development programmes.
  • Third countries: may receive technical assistance and participate in the Agency's work under agreements.
  • Industry: may pay fees for services and receive non-binding guidance from the Agency.

Figures and deadlines

  • The Agency reports to the Commission every three years on maritime safety, environmental impact, and decarbonisation progress.
  • The Management Board adopts the single programming document by 30 November each year and forwards it by 31 January.
  • The Executive Director's term is five years, extendable once for up to five more years.
  • The Commission evaluates the Agency no later than five years after entry into force and every five years thereafter.
  • The Agency's seat is in Lisbon, Portugal.

Legal basis: Article 100(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union