Armed guards on board merchant ships: the Commission slumps

(BRUSSELS2) The European Commission has not yet decided on its position on the boarding of armed guards on board European merchant ships. This is the result of a brief exchange held today.

I put the question officially to the spokesperson of the Commission. He then turned to his colleagues… who all courageously took a nosedive, leaving their colleague in charge of External Affairs to step up. Unfortunately, as everyone knows, this is not a foreign policy problem. The EUnavfor Atalanta mission is working. But it can't be everywhere. And the question of the boarding of private guards, the safety and security of ships is now a very political subject throughout the European Union.

Several European States (United Kingdom, Italy, etc.) have chosen to legislate to authorize, possibly with a more or less flexible framework, these possibilities. Others (France, Germany, the Netherlands, etc.), who do not want to consider this solution, opt for other solutions. But the debate continues. And should have extensions at European level. This question is nagging and crucial for shipowners and shipping. And the European Commission should have its say. Because it is in charge of the common transport policy and has legislated on several occasions on these subjects of maritime safety or security (crew standards, scanners in ports, etc.) over the past ten years. A "piracy" working group had indeed been set up within the European institution several years ago, but it got lost in the meanders. The main directorates-general disputed the "lead" of this subject which, in the end, was left to the Member States.

We'll talk about it in a year!