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EFCA supports the European Union in the international dimension of the CFP and the fight against illegal, unregulated and undeclared (IUU) activities. According to the CFP regulation, the agency will assist the EU to cooperate with non-member countries and international organisations dealing with fisheries, including regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs), to strengthen operational coordination and compliance.
EFCA support in the International Dimension includes the following cooperative tools:
- the implementation of operational coordination with non-member countries in specific areas/fisheries, which might include the deployment of EFCA chartered means;
- organising seminars on operational coordination and/or capacity building involving RFMOs, regional arrangements, non-member countries and coastguard fora;
- supporting the European Commission as requested in the evaluation missions to non-member countries;
- supporting the European Commission in capacity-building missions in the framework of fisheries partnership agreements based on the Commission’s strategy;
- assisting the Member States over a cooperation model to facilitate the enhancement of an IUU risk management strategy;
- supporting the EU and/or Member States where possible in cooperation with other EU agencies implementing specific projects falling under the coastguard functions in non-member countries.
The work on the international activities of EFCA is divided into four main categories which can be found here:
The European Fisheries Control Agency has a double role in the implementation of the Regulation to fight against IUU fishing:
- assists Member States to fulfill their obligations by organizing workshops and seminars for national administrations on the implementation of the IUU Regulation.
- supports the European Commission in their relations with third countries in the framework of the IUU Regulation.
Under this title, you will find information on:
The JDPs are established for fisheries/areas that are considered a priority by the European Commission and the Member States concerned. They can refer either to European Union waters for which a Specific Control and Inspection Programme (SCIP) has been adopted by the Commission in concert with the Member States, or to International waters under the competence of a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO), where EFCA is requested to coordinate the implementation of the European obligations under an International Control and Inspection Scheme.
The JDPs consist of three phases: planning, implementation and assessment:
Planning
EFCA JDPs are a year-round activity covering a wide range of fisheries with the permanent exchange of information and intelligence and control activities planned on the basis of risk assessment results. Member States assess the risks with regard to the stocks and areas in accordance with the regional risk assessment (RRA) methodology established in cooperation with EFCA.
The EFCA RRA aims for cost-efficient planning of future inspection activities and is used at three levels during the life cycle of JDPs:
- strategic planning — to facilitate long-term (yearly) spatial and temporal planning for deployment of control resources and identify specific objectives and actions of JDP campaigns;
- priority risk management — to identify priority fisheries and fleet segments under a specific threat analysis;
- work at operational level — to facilitate the exchange of best-practices and targets between different Member States on a short-term tactical level.
Implementation
The JDPs establish that the deployment of pooled national means is coordinated by EFCA in cooperation with the Member States and frequently with the presence of national coordinators at EFCA premises. It is implemented through two common groups:
- A Regional Steering Group (RSG) composed of Commission, Member States and EFCA representatives, that is in charge of ensuring the proper implementation of the plan.
- A Technical Joint Deployment Group (TJDG), composed of Member States and EFCA staff, that is in charge of follow-up daily the control activities and adopts the decision needed to guarantee an effective deployment of the means.
Assessment
EFCA assesses the effectiveness of the JDPs on the basis of performance indicators and benchmarks in a common evaluation in cooperation with the Member States, including the common reporting of joint control activities at regional level. The JDP annual assessment reports are sent to the European Parliament, the European Commission and Member States.
Through the JDPs, different elements to improve the control and inspection at a regional level are discussed and implemented. The Steering Group serves as a forum for discussion and exchange of best practices at a regional level. It includes the implementation at a regional level of projects concerning regional risk analysis, best practices for coordination and the optimum use of information tools, and the assessment of cost effectiveness of control operations.
A priority established by the EFCA multiannual work programme has been to support the uniform implementation of the LO. In close cooperation with the Member States and the European Commission, the EFCA strategy has been to approach the implementation of the LO from different angles to maximise the use of the main coordination tool (JDPs) in order to develop regional approaches to implement the landing obligation, and to work closely with the regional bodies created by the Member States in order to promote the adoption of decisions facilitating control in all the areas.
In this regard, EFCA cooperation with Member States to support the regional implementation of the LO consists mainly in the following undertakings.
A. Using JDPs to obtain regional indicators and implement the risk assessment and evaluation.
These comprise the following analyses:
a. Last haul
b. Gramme size
c. Grade size.
These activities have been encompassed within the control and inspection effort and sea inspections by introducing specific objectives in the relevant JDPs. The provisional results of the project are disseminated to the Member State regional groups and are used for the preparation of regional risk analysis in the different areas to identify the major risks of non-compliance with the landing obligation.
B. Cooperating with all formally constituted regional bodies created by Member States through the PACT approach (Partnership, Accountability (compliance), Cooperation and Transparency)
The PACT approach allows assistance to the MS in accordance with Articles 7 and 15 of EFCA’s founding regulation. EFCA also facilitates inter-regional cooperation on horizontal issues in order to promote uniform implementation and a level playing field across regions.
C. Supporting the dialogue with stakeholders on the implementation of the LO
EFCA staff participate in the different fora where the LO is discussed (advisory councils, STECF, other scientific and research seminars, etc.). EFCA also support the organisation of joint meetings with regional Member State groups and stakeholders.
Regulation (EU) 2019/473 on the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA’s Founding Regulation) is in force since 14 April 2019. In the interests of clarity, EFCA’s Founding Regulation of 2005 was replaced by a codified text, which incorporates the initial Founding Regulation and subsequent amendments as listed below:
- EFCA was established by Council Regulation (EC) No 768/2005 of 26 April 2005 and later amended by Council Regulation (EC) 1224/2009.
- In 2016, Regulation (EU) 2016/1626 of the European Parliament and of the Council introduced a second amendment aimed at increasing European cooperation on coast guard functions, as well as to strengthen cooperation at EU and international level between EFCA, the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex).
- In 2024, new amendments have been introduced by Regulation (EU) 2023/2842 of the European Parliament and of the Council with landmark changes widening the mission and the activities of the Agency. In addition, as from 2024, EFCA’s Union inspectors have been given powers to conduct inspections in the Economic Exclusive Zone of EU Member States. Besides, as from 2024, the European Parliament may appoint one member and one alternate to the Administrative Board, without the right to vote.
The seat of EFCA is Vigo, Spain, as established in Article 27(4) of EFCA’s Founding Regulation.
Background
In the wake of the 2002 Common Fisheries Policy reform, European Union governments deemed necessary to establish the Agency in an effort to build a culture of compliance within the fisheries sector across Europe. The new permanent structure was to ensure the coordination of inspection and control activities by the Member States and to assist them to cooperate so as to comply with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy. The European Fisheries Control Agency was the result of this need.
Relevant legal instruments
- Regulation (EU) 2023/2842 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 November 2023
- Regulation (EU) 2019/473 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2019 on the European Fisheries Control Agency
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 of 8 April 2011 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy.
- Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy.
- Regulation (EU) 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
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You may read EFCA Information Security summarised policy.
As a necessary and strategic step, in the field of Information Security EFCA started the implementation of an Information Security Management System (ISMS) (following the international standard of ISO 27000 series), that is a system of processes and procedures that helps in managing the controls in place for all security practices, consistently and costeffectively.