Competences of the Agency as defined in Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council as amended by Regulations (EC) No 1644/2003 and (EC) No 724/2004

Common transport policy ‘The European Parliament and the Council, acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, may lay down appropriate provisions for sea and air transport’. (Article 100 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union)

Objectives — To ensure a high, uniform and effective level of maritime safety and prevention of pollution by ships. — To provide the Member States and the Commission with technical and scientific assistance. — To monitor the implementation of Union legislation in this field and to evaluate the effectiveness of the measures in place. — To introduce operational methods for fighting pollution in European waters.

Tasks The Agency undertakes a broad range of activities in the fields of maritime safety, security and prevention of pollution and response to pollution by ships. Firstly, the Agency has been tasked with assisting the Commission in monitoring the implementation of EU legislation relating, among others, to classification societies, Port State Control, the reception of ship waste in EU ports, certification of marine equipment, ship security, the training of seafarers in EU and non-EU countries and vessel traffic monitoring. Secondly, the Agency develops and operates maritime information capabilities at EU level. Significant examples are the SafeSeaNet vessel traffic monitoring system, to enable effective tracking of vessels and their cargoes; the EU LRIT Data Centre, to ensure the identification and tracking of EU flagged ships worldwide; THETIS, the information system needed for the implementation of the EU Port State Control regime. In parallel, a marine pollution preparedness, detection and response capability has been established, including a European network of stand-by oil spill response vessels as well as a European satellite oil spill monitoring service (CleanSeaNet), both with the aim of contributing to an effective system for protecting EU coasts and waters from pollution by ships. Finally, the Agency provides technical and scientific advice to the Commission in the field of maritime safety and prevention of pollution by ships in the continuous process of evaluating the effectiveness of the measures in place, and in the updating and development of new legislation. It also provides support to, and facilitates cooperation between, the Member States and disseminates best practices. A substantial programme of training has been made available to Member States’ experts. At the same time assistance is provided to new and incoming Member States in transposing and implementing EU legislation.

1. Administrative Board Composition One representative per Member State, four representatives of the Commission and four representatives, without the right to vote from the professional sectors concerned. Tasks — To adopt the multiannual staff policy plan, the annual budget, the work programme, the annual report and a detailed plan for the Agency’s pollution preparedness and response activities. — To supervise the work undertaken by the Executive Director 2. Executive Director Appointed by the Administrative Board. The Commission may propose one or more candidates. 3. External audit Court of Auditors. 4. Discharge Authority Parliament, acting on a recommendation from the Council.

Budget 48,3 million euro CA (50,2 million euro CA) 53,3 million euro PA (50,2 million euro PA) Staff at 31 December 2009 Permanent and temporary staff: 192 (181) Contract staff: 27 (27) SNEs: 15 (15)