Introductory text

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 100(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee^f1,

After consulting the Committee of the Regions,

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure^f2,

Whereas:

National authorities carrying out coast guard functions are responsible for a wide range of tasks, which may include maritime safety, security, search and rescue, border control, fisheries control, customs control, general law enforcement and environmental protection. The European Maritime Safety Agency (‘the Agency’), the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, established by Regulation (EU) 2016/1624 of the European Parliament and of the Council^f3, and the European Fisheries Control Agency, established by Council Regulation (EC) No 768/2005^f4, should therefore strengthen their cooperation, within their mandate, both with each other and with the national authorities carrying out coast guard functions, in order to increase maritime situational awareness and to support coherent and cost-efficient action.

The implementation of this Regulation does not affect the division of competence between the Union and the Member States or the obligations of Member States under international conventions such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, and other relevant international maritime instruments.

To allow an efficient and effective support to national authorities carrying out coast guard functions, the Agency should make use of available state-of-the-art technology, such as remotely piloted aircraft systems.

It is appropriate that the Administrative Board of the Agency be fully involved in the decision-making on issues referred to in this Regulation, which might have an impact on the Agency's other tasks and budget, including the working arrangement for co-operation between the three agencies.

Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council^f5 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: