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POLAND

German Police and Customs Cooperation Centre (PCCC) for DENMARK (Padborg), POLAND (Swiecko)

Source: German Federal Ministry of the Interior Website

German Police have signed bilateral agreements with all its neighbours on cross-border police cooperation. These agreements govern cross-border police measures such as surveillance, controlled deliveries and hot pursuit, joint police operations (in particular joint patrols, information sharing, cross-border personnel support, and work at the joint centres for police and customs cooperation. At these joint centres, the police and customs authorities of the partner countries work together in mixed international teams under one roof based on mutual trust. Information and experience are shared on all matters related to the border area. This makes it easier to coordinate cross-border operations, e.g. identifying additional contact persons in the neighbouring country. Officers working at the joint centres are required to be able to speak the language of both countries.

Coast Guard Functions
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Maritime Customs Activities
Maritime Ship and Port Security
Countries involved

Poland-Denmark Operational Agreement on Maritime SAR Co-operation (1994)

Source: Polish Maritime Search and Rescue Organisation

An agreement Maritime SAR Co-operation between Polish Ship Salvage Company and Admiral Danish Fleet.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Search and Rescue
Countries involved

Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Port State Control

Source: Paris MOU Website

The Paris MOU is based on the principle that the prime responsibility for compliance with the requirements laid down in the international maritime conventions lies with the ship-owner/operator. Responsibility for ensuring compliance remains with the flag State. It aims to eliminate the operation of sub-standard ships through a harmonized system of port State control. The members are Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management
Maritime Environmental Protection & Response
Maritime Ship and Port Security

European Search and Rescue Plan (EUR Doc 039) - International Civil Aviation Organisation

Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) UN Agency Website

The Plan aims to identify the status of SAR preparedness of EUR Region States and State SAR arrangements. It also makes recommendations for SAR planning and preparedness enhancements, in terms of compliance with the Convention on International Civil Aviation, Annex 12, the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual guidance, and accepted best international practice. It provides recommendations to IMO for harmonised and interoperable delivery of both aeronautical and maritime SAR services. It requires regular updating to keep current with changes in ICAO Annexes and guidance material, the IAMSAR Manual, regional aviation activity, developments in ATM system, new technology, political considerations, as well as human performance lessons learned from actual SAR responses.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Search and Rescue

International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation

Source: IALA AISM website

Initially, IALA was a non-profit, international technical association. Established in 1957, it gathered marine aids to navigation authorities, manufacturers, consultants, and, scientific and training institutes from all parts of the world to exchange and compare their experiences and achievements. On 22 August 2024, it officially changed its status from a Non-governmental Organization (NGO) to an Intergovernmental Organization (IGO) based on a Convention.
The aim of IALA is to foster the safe, economic and efficient movement of vessels, through improvement and harmonisation of aids to navigation worldwide and other appropriate means, for the benefit of the maritime community and the protection of the environment.

It provides for recommendations (soft law).
 

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management

International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)

Source: ICAO Website

The International Civil Aviation Organization is a UN specialized agency, established in 1944 to manage the administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention). ICAO works with the Convention’s 193 Member States and industry groups to reach consensus on international civil aviation Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and policies in support of a safe, efficient, secure, economically sustainable and environmentally responsible civil aviation sector. These ensure local civil aviation operations and regulations conform to global norms, allowing more than 100,000 daily flights in aviation’s global network to operate safely and reliably, many over the world’s oceans and seas.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response

European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) Joint Deployment Plans

Source: EFCA Website

The EFCA coordinates the implementation of Specific Control and Inspection Programmes (SCIP) for the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea and the Western Waters. EFCA, with the MS’s, provides a specific organisational framework for operational coordination of control activities in the different areas, known as Joint Deployment Plan (JDP’s). The JDPs are for fisheries/areas prioritised by the European Commission and the MS’s concerned. They can be for European Union waters for which the SCIP has been adopted by the Commission with the Member States, or for International waters under the competence of an RFMO, such as NAFO or NEAFC, where EFCA is requested to coordinate the implementation of the EU obligations under an International Control and Inspection Scheme.

Coast Guard Functions
Fisheries Inspection & Control

International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF)

Source: IMRF Website

The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) is the international non-governmental organisation (NGO) working to develop and improve maritime search and rescue (SAR) capacity around the world, improving maritime SAR capability worldwide. The IMRF brings together the world's maritime SAR organisations involving both voluntary and governmental organisations. As well as capacity building, the IMRF also has an advocacy role, providing an international voice for its members. It is the only maritime SAR NGO with consultative status at the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Search and Rescue

European Coast Guard Functions Forum (ECGFF)

Source: ECGFF Website

The European Coast Guard Functions Forum (ECGFF) is a self-governing, non-binding, voluntary, independent and non-political forum bringing together the Coast Guard authorities from 25 EU Member States and Schengen associated countries, as well as representatives of the EU institutions and bodies with competencies related to EU CG Functions. Since its establishment in 2009 the European Commission and EU Agencies, have supported the ECGFF. The rotating chair, supported by a secretariat, governs the Forum with responsibility to implement the annual programme. Bringing together over 30 national coastguard authorities from EU countries and associated Schengen countries, it works on collaborative issues i.e. multi-agency, multinational operations and capacity building among CG academies.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management
Ship Casualty & Maritime Assistance Service
Fisheries Inspection & Control
Maritime Border Control
Maritime Environmental Protection & Response
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Maritime Search and Rescue
Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
Maritime Customs Activities
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response
Maritime Ship and Port Security

Marine Accident Investigators International Forum (MAIIF)

Source: MAIIF Website

The Marine Accident Investigators’ International Forum (MAIIF) is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to the advancement of maritime safety and the prevention of marine pollution through the exchange of ideas, experiences and information acquired in marine accident investigation. It aims to promote and improve marine accident investigation, and to foster cooperation and communication between marine accident investigators. It aims to develop and sustain a co-operative relationship among national marine investigators in order to share knowledge in an international forum, and to improve maritime safety and the prevention of pollution via the dissemination of information from the investigative process. 

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response

Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS)

Source: CBSS Website

The Council of the Baltic Sea States is an overall political forum for regional cooperation. Consisting of 11 Member States (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia & Sweden), as well as a representative of the European Union, it supports a global perspective on regional problems. The Council of the Baltic Sea States functions as a coordinator of a multitude of regional actors in the areas of its three long-term priorities: Regional Identity, Sustainable & Prosperous Region, and Safe & Secure Region. Set up in 1992 to ease the transition to a new international landscape, the organisation today focuses on themes such as societal security, sustainability, research & innovation, as well as countering human trafficking.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Border Control

North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum (NACGF)

Source: Defense Media Network

The North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum (NACGF), formed in 2007, aims to increase cooperation amongst member countries on maritime safety and security in the region. The NACGF is not policy or regulatory oriented, is non-binding, voluntary, and operates within existing legal frameworks. Its members are Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland have observer status.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response
Maritime Border Control
Ship Casualty & Maritime Assistance Service
Fisheries Inspection & Control
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Maritime Environmental Protection & Response
Maritime Search and Rescue
Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
Maritime Ship and Port Security
Maritime Customs Activities
Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management

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