Definition and scope

Integrated Maritime Surveillance is about providing authorities interested or active in maritime surveillance with ways to exchange information and data. Sharing data will make surveillance cheaper and more effective.

Currently, EU and national authorities responsible for different aspects of surveillance – e.g. border control, safety and security, fisheries control, customs, environment or defence – collect data separately and often do not share them. As a result, the same data may be collected more than once.

If you are interested in other specific surveillance activities, anti-piracy measures, or maritime safety and security in general, check our recommended links.

Video: Integrated Maritime Surveillance

How does it work in practice?

A Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE) is currently being developed jointly by the European Commission and EU/EEA member states. It will integrate existing surveillance systems and networks and give all concerned authorities access to the information they need for their missions at sea.

CISE will make different systems interoperable so that data and other information can be exchanged easily through the use of modern technologies. A roadmap has been adopted to develop the CISE [5 MB] All available translations..

Official documents

• GEARC Conclusions on Integration of Maritime Surveillance (23.5.2011)
• Common Information Sharing Environment - Roadmap [5 MB] All available translations. (COM(2010) 584) - user-friendly version
• Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on a Draft Roadmap towards establishing of the Common Information Sharing Environment for the surveillance of the EU maritime domain (COM(2010)584 final)
• GAERC Conclusions on the Integration of Maritime Surveillance [135 KB] All available translations. (17.11.2009)
• EU led actions relevant for the integration of maritime surveillance activities (Commission staff working document - 2009)
• Commission communication on the integration of maritime surveillance (2009)
• Working documents on offshore activities of littoral EU countries and cross-border cooperation [245 KB] All available translations.
• Working document III on maritime surveillance systems [248 KB] All available translations.
• GAERC Conclusions on Integrated Maritime Policy and Maritime Surveillance (8.12.2008)
• Commission staff working document on maritime surveillance (SEC(2008) 2737)
• Maritime surveillance - Overview of ongoing activities (EU Council document, 2008)

Go to the maritime surveillance section on the Maritime Forum for further reading about:

• Background information
• Workshop or working group documents
• Events

Related content

• Projects:
  • MARSUNO – Pilot project on Maritime Surveillance in the Northern Sea Basins (closed)
  • BLUMASSMED - Pilot project on Integration of Maritime Surveillance in the Mediterranean Sea and its Atlantic approaches (2009-2012)
• Studies
• Press releases
• Speeches
• Recommended links
• Publications
• Videos