The Council of the European Union (EU) approved this Tuesday its position on the reinforcement of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), based in Lisbon, and negotiations can now begin with the European Parliament (EP) for its final approval .
The new regulation aims to update EMSA’s mandate in the areas of preventing and combating pollution, decarbonisation, digitalisation, surveillance and maritime awareness, according to a statement from the Council.
The position of the Member States focuses the work of the agency on its essential tasks, without excluding the possibility of taking on additional tasks, when the Member States and the European Commission consider it necessary and appropriate, due to the evolution of the maritime sector. , and reinforces the weight of the 27 on the board of directors, ensuring their adequate participation in decision-making.
EMSA will have the legal mandate to support Member States and the European Commission with the technical, operational and scientific assistance necessary to guarantee maritime safety and the protection of maritime transport, as well as the ecological and digital transition of the sector.
Strengthening the agency’s mandate is also intended to ensure that it has adequate human and financial resources to play your role.
This is the last legislative act that forms part of the so-called “maritime security” legislative package and which will now be negotiated with the EP and the Commission, to reach a common position.
The remaining legislative proposals were provisionally agreed by co-legislators earlier this year and are expected to be formally adopted by the Council in the autumn.
Source: Observadora
