Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Defence the way he is fostering EU cooperation in the area of maritime security and surveillance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13258/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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One of Ireland’s priorities during our Presidency of the European Council, is EU cooperation in the area of Maritime Security and Surveillance with a particular focus on improving cooperation between EU Navies and other EU security actors and leveraging innovation through security sector research and development. To this end, I will host a Seminar titled “Challenges and Opportunities in Maritime Security and Surveillance for Effective Governance and Innovation in the EU’s Maritime Domain” in April. This seminar will act as a forum to highlight the importance of building EU wide consensus and cooperation in relation to security and surveillance in the maritime domain in support of EU Sea Basins Strategies (including the new EU Atlantic Strategy), the Integrated Maritime Policy, the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE) and Common Security and Defence Policy in the maritime domain. In meeting the challenges of the 21st century, the unique aspects of the Union’s maritime and surveillance domain will be highlighted. The seminar will seek to draw lessons from existing EU Sea Basin strategies and the technologies and operational procedures which support collaboration among member States, with a particular focus on EU Navies. The seminar will also raise awareness of the role maritime surveillance and security can play as an economic enabler thus contributing to the EU Jobs, Growth and Innovation strategy. A wide range of high level speakers will attend and present their perspectives on this important topic.

An important regional element of the implementation of the EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy (2007) is the development of sea-basin strategies, taking into account the regional specificities of maritime policy for the various Member States. In this context, the European Commission approved the adoption of an Atlantic Strategy. The Atlantic Strategy, will take stock of existing initiatives that can support growth and job creation. The strategy will cover the coasts, territorial and jurisdictional waters of the five EU Member States with an Atlantic coastline – France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom. Preliminary meetings between these five Member States have taken place and work is ongoing regarding the development of this strategy, in which Ireland is playing a key role.

In furtherance of developments in this area, the European Defence Agency is coordinating a project involving 13 Member States, including Ireland. This project “MARSUR” will allow for the sharing of maritime information among participating member States Naval Forces. The Irish Naval Service participates in this project. In concert, the Commission’s initiative – the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE) - will allow for the exchange of information across all EU maritime sectors, through the integration of existing maritime systems with the use of modern technologies, in a cost efficient and effective manner. “MARSUR” will ultimately feed into this system.

Ireland’s involvement in this project will enhance information sharing and knowledge transfer between Member States and build working relationships based on “mutual trust” with other European agencies at the operational level. As we have seen, by our involvement in drug seizures, success depends on the cooperation of our national and international partners.