Frontex Reinforces Maritime Security Leadership at European Maritime Day 2025
Cork, Ireland – June 2025 — As Europe charts a course toward a more secure and sustainable maritime future, Frontex took center stage at European Maritime Day (EMD) 2025 , underscoring its pivotal role in safeguarding the EU’s vast maritime domain. Held in Cork, Ireland, this year’s event brought together over 1,000 maritime professionals, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore innovation, sustainability, and the evolving threats facing Europe’s seas.
As the current Chair of the Tripartite Working Arrangement (TWA) —a strategic collaboration with the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) —Frontex played a prominent role in shaping discussions around integrated maritime governance under the European Maritime Security Strategy (EUMSS) and its Action Plan.
A Tripartite Force for Maritime Security
At a joint interagency stand, EFCA, EMSA, and Frontex demonstrated how their coordinated efforts are delivering concrete results across multiple domains—from border surveillance and fisheries control to environmental protection and search-and-rescue operations.
Key initiatives showcased included Multipurpose Maritime Operations (MMOs) , which allow for the pooling of resources and expertise among agencies to enhance operational efficiency and responsiveness. These missions, endorsed by the EUMSS as a model for future expansion, enable simultaneous monitoring of migration flows, illegal fishing, pollution, and other security concerns—all while reducing duplication and costs.
Real-time surveillance systems, cross-sector training programs, and joint risk analysis frameworks were also highlighted as critical tools in building a unified approach to maritime security—one that reflects the interconnected nature of modern threats.
Celebrating Two Decades of Excellence
The event marked a significant milestone: 20 years of Frontex and 20 years of EFCA —two decades of dedicated service in border management and fisheries control respectively. The celebration honored the evolution of both agencies from fledgling entities into key pillars of EU maritime governance.
Dr. Lars Gerdes, Frontex Deputy Director for Operations, reflected on the agency’s journey: “From our early days responding to migratory pressures at sea, we have evolved into a comprehensive security actor with responsibilities spanning surveillance, crisis response, and now increasingly, cyber resilience and environmental protection.”
Interagency Panel: Tackling Emerging Threats
On 23 May , a high-level interagency panel convened under the moderation of DG MARE Director-General Charlina Vitcheva , featuring top officials from all three agencies:
- Dr. Lars Gerdes , Frontex
- Dr. Susan Steele , EFCA Executive Director
- Ms. Maja Markovčić Kostelac , EMSA Executive Director
The session delved into the agencies’ expanding mandate in confronting hybrid threats, cybersecurity risks, shadow fleets , and the growing impact of climate change on maritime security .
Frontex’s DED-OPS (Deployment and Operations Directorate) emphasized the importance of MMOs as a force multiplier, enabling faster operational responses and better resource allocation. “We’re moving beyond siloed approaches,” said Dr. Gerdes. “Through MMOs, we can deploy once but achieve multiple objectives—security, safety, and sustainability.”
The discussion also addressed the integration of AI and autonomous systems into maritime operations, particularly in enhancing search and rescue (SAR) capabilities. However, participants stressed the need for robust cybersecurity measures and updated legal frameworks to ensure responsible use of these technologies.
Frontex: Operational Actor and Strategic Partner
Frontex’s participation reaffirmed its dual identity: not only as an operational body conducting border surveillance and repatriation operations, but also as a strategic partner shaping the EU’s maritime policy agenda. The agency’s leadership in the TWA positions it as a linchpin in fostering interagency cooperation—a model that has proven effective in addressing complex, multi-layered challenges.
With the oceans becoming ever more contested spaces—both geopolitically and environmentally—the role of agencies like Frontex is expanding. Climate-induced displacement, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and maritime hybrid threats are increasingly intertwined, demanding a holistic and cooperative response.
Looking Ahead: A Secure and Sustainable Maritime Future
As European Maritime Day 2025 drew to a close, one message was clear: Europe’s maritime security depends on unity, innovation, and foresight. By strengthening tripartite cooperation, embracing new technologies responsibly, and maintaining a forward-looking strategy, Frontex and its partners are steering the EU toward a safer, more resilient blue economy.
In the words of Polish Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna during a previous major EU agreement: “Smart regulation, clean results.” In the maritime domain, it could be rephrased as: Strategic cooperation, secure seas.
Held in Cork, Ireland, European Maritime Day (EMD) 2025 brought together over 1000 maritime professionals to exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and discuss the future of maritime security, innovation, and sustainability.
