The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) based in Lisbon, the European Agency for the Management of Operational Co-operation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (Frontex) based in Warsaw and the Community Fisheries Control Agency (CFCA), based in Vigo, Spain, have concluded an agreement to cooperate, in accordance with their respective mandates, in the field of maritime surveillance in a way that will be mutually beneficial for the three agencies

The Cooperation Agreement will allow for the exchange of information and expertise, as well as for the exploration of possible joint use of assets, thus optimising the functioning of the European Union as a whole in regard to Maritime Surveillance. The cooperation will result in an improvement of the control of external maritime borders of the EU (competence of Frontex),  an increase in maritime safety (competence of EMSA) and an enhancement of the coordination of fisheries control and inspection activities by the Member States (competence of CFCA).

The main activities covered by the agreement are the following:

• Exchange of information and data on matters of common interest
• Exploration of synergies in the use of the maritime surveillance and information systems
• Exploration of possible joint use of assets
• Investigation of potential cooperation in the field of  maritime surveillance directed at the protection of external maritime borders and fisheries control
• Expansion of mutual collaboration between the Agencies in areas such as coordination of inspections, research and development, training, etc.