The European Union Maritime Security Strategy (EUMSS) was adopted in June 2014 and it provides not only an opportunity for the EU to assert its role as a global maritime power, but also to focus on our internal maritime situation.

The EUMSS also strives to change the mindset of Member States and national institutions involved in maritime surveillance, establishing a cross-sectoral approach. It is essential that we take full advantage of the EUMSS through its implementation when these security challenges are addressed. Concurrently NATO also has been working on building the Maritime Command and Control Information System (MCCIS) maritime surveillance network. These efforts of both organisations need to be coordinated as much as possible to escape duplication and ensure interoperability.

Contributing to this agenda, Latvia and Sweden plans to host a half-day interactive seminar entitled “Implementing the EU Maritime Security Strategy: the Case of the Baltic Sea Region” on 26 May in Brussels. It will explore and address the core issues relevant to the Baltic Sea Region and provide possible solutions suitable also for other regions.

This discussion aims to seek answers to the following questions:

• What contribution can the EUMSS and its action plan give to the cooperation in maritime surveillance?
• How the EU-NATO cooperation can be improved in maritime surveillance?
• What are the specifics of the Baltic/Nordic Region for maritime surveillance? What security challenges are we facing?
• What practical initiatives can the Baltic/Nordic Region introduce from the EUMSS and its action plan?