Maritime security

The overall objective of the EU's maritime security policy is to protect the citizens and our economies from the consequences of unlawful intentional acts against shipping and port operations.

The EU legislation consists in the combination of preventive measures contained in the Regulation on enhancing ship and port facility security, on the one hand, and the Directive on port security on the other hand. This provides a regulatory framework for the protection of the maritime link in the transport logistics chain against the risk of an attack and threats of this type. This framework, which goes beyond international obligations, is designed to ensure the best level of preventive security possible for maritime transport, whilst ensuring that the ability to promote and pursue world trade can continue.

The Commission has been given the obligation by the European Parliament and the Council to monitor the application by Member States of the Maritime Security legislation and to verify the effectiveness of national maritime security measures, procedures and structures. In order to fulfill this task, the Commission adopted a Regulation on procedures for conducting Commission inspections in the field of maritime security.

The Commission is willing to help address the practical problem of combating piracy and armed robbery. Piracy has always been one of its concerns, and in accordance with recital (2) of Regulation (EC) No 725/2004: "The security of European Community shipping and of the citizens using it and of the environment in the face of threats of intentional unlawful acts such as acts of terrorism, acts of piracy or similar, should be ensured at all time", the Regulatory Committee for Maritime Security (MARSEC) has dealt with this topic.

Links

Road safety

Land security

Air safety

Air security

Maritime safety

Rail safety

Related documents

Legislation

Commission Recommendation of 11 March 2010 on measures for self-protection and the prevention of piracy and armed robbery against ships [2010/159/EU]

Second report assessing the implementation of the Directive on enhancing port security [COM(2013) 792]

Report assessing the implementation of the Directive on enhancing port security [COM(2009) 2]

Commission Decision of 23 January 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 725/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council as far as the IMO Unique Company and Registered Owner Identification Number Scheme is concerned

Commission Regulation (EC) No 324/2008 of 9 April 2008 laying down revised procedures for conducting Commission inspections in the field of maritime security

Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on transport security and its financing [COM/2006/0431 final]

Directive 2005/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2005 on enhancing port security

Regulation (EC) No 725/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on enhancing ship and port facility security

Press room

Maritime security: protecting maritime transport from piracy [IP/09/83, 21/01/2009]