EU MARITIME SECURITY

What is it? Why does it matter?

Cdr Nikolaos Metaxas GRC(N), PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science, University of Crete

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The EU’s areas of privileged interest, 2013-25(Source: EUISS Report No. 16, p. 17)

• European Union's Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP)

• Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)• European Agency for the Management and

Operational Cooperation at the External Borders (FRONTEX)

• EUNAVFOR-Atalanta, +EUCAP Nestor,+EUTM Somalia

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• December 2013 European Council decisions• Joint Communication of the European

Commission and the High Representative March 6, 2014

• Friends of the Presidency Group • EU MSS: key document concerning public

diplomacy

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• European Security Strategy (ESS 2003) • the ability to practically cooperate and

coordinate• EU and its member states cooperates and

coordinates with the UN, NATO• EU maritime domain:internal (territorial waters,

EEZ) and external (open seas, oceans) aspects• “A secure Europe in a better world”: only one

reference to maritime environment4

• facts and figures 28 EU Member States, 23 are coastal states and 26

are Flag Statesa coastline over 90,000 kilometres1,200 commercial ports 90% of the EU's external trade and 40% of its

internal European ship owners 400 million passengers 22 Fisheries partnership agreements (FPAs) with

third countriesEU fishing fleet

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• EU and Member States maritime security interests• what constitutes a maritime security threat or

risk?Territorial maritime disputesProliferation of weapons of mass destructionMaritime piracy and armed robbery at seaTerrorismCross-border and organised crime Environment, natural disasters…

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Conclusions

broad global cooperationcommon values and in full compliance with the

European acquisan international security actoran overarching strategic vision regional and national dimensionMember States should provide at least the same

effort

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The EU’s areas of privileged interest, 2013-25(Source: EUISS Report No. 16, p. 17)