The EU Maritime Security Strategy+ Action Plan

Dr Marcus HOUBEN, CMPD / EEAS

Agenda

1. Process - Content

2. Joint Comm. - Strategy - Action Plan

3. Implementation

4. Lessons Learned

Timeline

- April 2010: Request to HR to prepare options (ES)

- Second half 2012: Work starts (CY)

- March 2014: Joint Communication (EL)

- June 2014: EU MSS (EL)

- December 2014: Action Plan (IT)

- 2015 Onwards: Implementation (LV – Lux – NLD)

The beginning

The European Council decides in April 2010 under the Spanish Presidency to request the High Representative:

 

" …to undertake work with a view to preparing options for the possible

elaboration of a Security Strategy for the global maritime domain,

including the possible establishment of a Task Force. Work will take

place in the context of CFSP/CSDP, within the framework of the

European Security Strategy…"

First attempt (2010)

The Spanish Presidency seconds a naval officer to CMPD take the workon a European Maritime security Strategy forward.

The first draft is a military strategy in which one tries to accommodate or find a role for the European Commission.

But the Commission does not want to be accommodated…

…and the work grinds to a halt.

Second attempt (2012)

-Under the Cypriot Presidency (second semester 2012) maritime security is again placed on the European agenda.

-Reason for the EEAS to try once more.

-Now the European Commission is involved from the start as an equal partner, for example by co-chairing the Inter Service Group that coordinated the work (DG Mare – fisheries and EEAS).

-Commission agrees and the work begins in earnest.

-There are however high levels of distrust to be overcome.

Second attempt (cont'd, 2013)

-Distrust/apprehension exists in particular with DG MOVE (responsible for maritime transport security) and DG HOME (responsible for external borders, Frontex, the coordination of immigration policies of EU MS).

-Much time and energy is invested in building mutual confidence.In the end the Commission agrees to commit itself to a 'cross-sectoral' approach to maritime security and the principle of 'functional integrity'.

-But, no guarantees for success…

-Pressure is raised in 2013 by several 'maritime' MS, amongst others byhaving Council Conclusions with specific instructions and timelines.

For example: Council Conclusions on CSDP in Nov 2013

"…to adopt by June 2014 an EU Maritime Security Strategy, on the basis of

elements provided by a joint Communication from the European Commission

and the High Representative to be presented by early 2014"

"…It stresses the importance of safeguarding the EU’s strategic maritime security interests against a broad range of risks and threats, enhancing EU and Member States’ capabilities, and working comprehensively, making optimal use of existing structures and regulatory frameworks, and in coordination with all relevant actors, to respond to maritime challenges in strategic areas "

And: European Council on Defence in December 2013

"New security challenges continue to emerge. Europe's internal and external security dimensions are increasingly interlinked. To enable the EU and its Member States to respond, in coherence with NATO efforts, the European Council calls for:

…an EU Maritime Security Strategy by June 2014, on the basis of a joint Communication from the Commission and the High Representative, taking into account the opinions of the Member States, and the subsequent elaboration of action plans to respond to maritime challenges; "

What form and content of the EU MSS?

-HR (EEAS) and Commission were requested 'to prepare options'.

-Decision to publish the EU MSS in the form of a Joint CommunicationOf the HR and the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council (= Member States).

-Title: For an open and secure global maritime domain:elements for a European Union maritime security strategy

-The prerogative of MS to adopt the Strategy is respected, the 'Services'provide the elements for the strategy.

The Joint Communication 'Elements for an EU MSS'

- Adopted 10 March 2014- With the full support and consent of the European Commission- Source document for the EU MSS - Translated into a 'fully fledged' strategy by MS under Greek Presidency.

Core concepts -The EU Maritime Security Strategy is a foundation document based on the EU Security Strategy and the Integrated Maritime Policy.

-It is not a blue-print but a process, it sets out the EU approach to maritime security.

-The strategy brings together different maritime security stakeholders in a single and strategic framework.

The point of departure are the

EU's strategic maritime interests and

the maritime risks and threats

Maritime Europe: some facts and figures

1. The EU is a single continent with 70,000 km coastline along two oceans and four seas: the Atlantic and Arctic Ocean, the Baltic, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean and the North Sea.  2. Of its 28 Member States, 23 are coastal states and 26 are Flag States. 3. EU MS together have more than 1200 commercial ports 4. 90% of the EU's external trade and 40% of its internal trade is transported by sea  5. Merchant ships make more than 850 000 port calls per year in EU ports and more than 400 million passengers pass through EU ports each year. 6. EU Member States are responsible for the control of their coastline and territorial seas in addition to overseas territories and national security installations throughout other oceans. 7. There are in Europe over 400 agencies with some responsibility for maritime security.

1. A Maritime Security Strategy for the European Union

-Member States adopted the EU's first ever maritime security strategy on 24 June 2014.

-The aim of this presentation is to explain the thinking behind the EU's approach to maritime security and to look at it from a partnership perspective.

2. General considerations

-The EU dependence on open, protected and secure seas and oceans for economic development, free trade, transport, energy security, tourism and good status of the marine environment

-The requirement to better coordinate internal – external security, to strengthen civil-military interaction and international cooperation

-Maritime security: a priority topic for many strategic partners

-The EU has global interests, ambitions and responsibilities, the EU aspires to a 'global maritime security provider', contributing to 'global disaster relief and crisis response'

-'Cooperation at sea often has a positive spill over in other policy areas'

-Gulf of Aden 'arena for international cooperation'

-EU has FPA with 16 countries

-Partner countries strengthen ties with EU throughCSDP missions.

-EU – China exercise

Example Operation Atalanta

Example irregular migration

- Humanitarian issue with possible security implications

- Requires policy coordination, cross borders and across sectors

- Requires multi stakeholder engagement and information sharing

3. Key tenets underpinning the Strategy

-The EU approach to maritime security must be cross-sectoral, it must bring together different policy sectors, civil and military into a single strategic framework and approach

-The scope of the strategy must be global and link internal and external security. -It must strengthen collaboration between European Commission – European External Action Service – EU Member States

4. Strategic objectives of the Strategy:

-Make the most of existing national capacities

-Strengthen capacity for global partnerships

-Promote cost-effectiveness

-Strengthen solidarity amongst Member States

5. Strategic maritime interests of the EU (excerpts)

The security of the EU, its Member States and their citizens…

The preservation of freedom of navigation, the protection of the global EU supply chain and of maritime trade…

The protection of economic interests…the sustainable exploitation of natural and marine resources…

The effective management of the Union’s maritime external borders and maritime areas of EU interest…

The protection of the environment and the management of the impact of climate change in maritime areas and coastal regions, as well as the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity...

6. Maritime security risks and treats (excerpts)

Threats or use of force against Member States’ rights and jurisdiction over their maritime zones…

Threats to the security of European citizens…

Cross-border and organized crime…Terrorism and other intentional unlawful acts at sea and in ports…

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction…

Environmental risks, including unsustainable and unauthorized exploitation of natural and marine resources, threats to biodiversity…natural or man-made disasters, extreme events and climate change…

7. Organising the EU approach

A. Common Principles

principles that all stakeholders can sign up to and that

form the foundation of the cross-sectoral approach to

maritime security

B. Work Strands

areas of better cooperation where on the basis of the

common principles specific actions are foreseen

8. Common principles

a. A cross-sectoral approach (=Comprehensive approach)

b. Functional integrity (=no changes in existing mandates or competences,

no transfer of sovereignty from capitals to Brussels)

c. Maritime Multilateralism (=effective cooperation with partner countries

and organisations)

d. Respect for Rules and Principles (=the EU is a community of values,

the maritime strategy underlines or manifests these values in the maritime

domain, e.g. human rights, rules-based good governance).

9. Areas of Implementation ('work strands')

1. External Action (including the role of navies)

2. Maritime Awareness, surveillance and information sharing

3. Capability Development

4. Risk management, protection of critical maritime infrastructure and crisis response

5. Maritime security research and innovation, education and training

10. Examples of objectives and specific actions under each Work Strand

a. Work strand 'External Action'

"Enhancing the visibility of the EU in the global maritime domain"

"Reinforcing the preparation for future maritime security contingencies…"

"The conduct of maritime security capacity building activities…"

b. Workstrand 'Maritime awareness, surveillance and information sharing'

"Supporting maritime surveillance in …the global maritime domain and the planning and conduct of CSDP missions and operations"

c. Work strand 'Capability development'

"…development of dual-use and multipurpose capabilities…"

"…creating synergies between information, capabilities and systems managed by civilian and military authorities "

"…greater sharing of best practices, risk analysis and threat information…among…the European Coast Guard Functions Forum and the Chiefs of European Navies..."

d. Work strand 'Risk management, protection of critical maritime infrastructure and crisis response'

"Enhancing cross-sectoral as well as cross border cooperation for maritime crisis response and planning on maritime security contingencies…"

e. Work strand 'Maritime security research and innovation, education and training'

"Establishing a civil-military agenda for maritime security research…"

"Establishing … networks for knowledge and competence development for civilian and military educational institutes…"

"…conduct of inter-agency, joined-up exercises…"

11. Action Plan

-Adopted on 16 December 2014 under Italian Presidency.

-130 concrete and specific actions.

-Outreach and communication to MS and partners crucial.

Lessons Learned

- The quality of the process determined the quality of the product.

- Use Council Conclusions to inject direction and discipline in the political process.

- Complexity is a fact of life in the EU (and you cannot simplify your way out). > Masters of complexity !

Relevant documents online

Joint Communication:- http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/policy/maritime-security/doc/join_2014_9_en.pdf

EU MSS:- http://register.consilium.europa.eu/doc/srv?l=EN&f=ST%2011205%202014%20INIT

Action Plan:-http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/policy/maritime-security/doc/20141216-action-plan_en.pdf

Q&As:- http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-161_en.htm

Thank you