Eurocommissaris Kristalina Georgieva bezoekt het Europese Maritieme Agentschap van de Veiligheid (en)
Today Kristalina Georgieva i, Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response i, visited the European Maritime Safety Agency ( EMSA i), with headquarters in Lisbon. The Commissioner underlined the importance of close co-operation between the European Commission's Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) and EMSA on preparedness and response to marine pollution. This cooperation was successfully demonstrated during the recent Deepwater Horizon incident, when both provided coordinated European assistance to the United States.
"As we saw during the oil spill in the gulf of Mexico, EMSA plays a very important role in the prevention, management and mitigation of the effects of maritime disasters, in close cooperation with the Commission's Monitoring and Information Center. EMSA expertise and equipment are a good example of what Europe can do in the field of disaster response." said Kristalina Georgieva.
During her visit to EMSA facilities, Commissioner Georgieva went on board the "Ria do Vigo" one of the vessels that EMSA can mobilise in case of maritime pollution incidents.
EMSA provides technical and scientific assistance to the European Commission and Member States in implementation of EU i legislation on maritime safety and pollution from ships and security on board of ships. EMSA acts as well in support of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in case of accidental or deliberate marine pollution. EMSA maintains a Network of Stand-by Oil Spill Response Vessels based all around Europe that can be requested by Member States, through the MIC, in case of pollution at sea. Currently up to 16 vessels can be mobilised simultaneously from this “reserve for disasters”. In parallel, operational assistance can also be provided by EMSA through CleanSeaNet. This is a state-of-the-art satellite oil spill monitoring service.
EMSA, was founded in 2002, in the aftermath of the Erika disaster, with the aims to reduce the risk of maritime accidents, marine pollution from ships and the loss of human lives at sea.
For information on Commission's humanitarian aid:
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_en.htm
EMSA