Portugal, through the National Maritime Authority and the National Republican Guard, handed over the joint presidency of the European Coast Guard Functions Forum (ECGFF) to the Italian Coast Guard.

The plenary conference was held in Setúbal on the 18 and 19 September 2024, under the theme “Cooperating Together in Coast-Guard Functions”, and brought together 18 countries and six agencies.

The event also included COASTEX 24, a multi-functional, multi-agency exercise designed to accompany the growing cooperation, collaboration, and coordination of coastguard functions in Europe and to bring this change of approach to the level of national authorities.

Over the course of a year, from September 2023 to September 2024, the ECGFF organized a series of workshops on topics of interest to the coastguards, with the aim of strengthening relations with the European Member States and, consequently, with the coastguard organizations, to exchange information and experience and find solutions to common problems.

On 14 and 15 May, Cascais hosted the third workshop organized by the Portuguese Presidency of the European Coast Guard Functions Forum (ECGFF), through the National Maritime Authority, the National Republican Guard and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX), on the theme ‘Modern Border Control: expanding materially and technologically’.

The event was attended by more than 100 participants of different nationalities and agencies to discuss innovations and advances in border security and control.

Faced with the growth of new threats, such as illegal immigration and terrorism, which increase the pressure to maintain high levels of security, the workshop contributed to the discussion and development of technologies and equipment that make it possible to modernize and implement efficient border control to guarantee the security of the European area.

From March 19th to 21st, Lisbon was the center of maritime innovation during a workshop organized by the Portuguese Presidency of the European Coast Guard Functions Forum (ECGFF), through National Maritime Authority and the National Republican Guard, and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), focused on the theme 'Exploring cutting-edge tools and technologies to enhance coast guard operations: a workshop on maritime situational awareness'.

The workshop brought together participants from 21 countries, facilitated the exchange of strategies and best practices for utilizing the latest technological advancements in coast guard operations. Given the rapidly evolving maritime situation, it is crucial to enhance situational awareness to ensure safety, environmental protection, and operational effectiveness along coastal regions.

On 26 and 27 February, Lisbon hosted the symposium of the Cyber Security Working Group, promoted within the framework of the Portuguese Presidency of the European Coast Guard Forum (ECGFF).

The event brought together cybersecurity experts to explore the "New Cybersecurity Challenges in Maritime Navigation", discussing emerging trends, threats, and solutions, and sharing valuable experiences on how to effectively guarantee digital security in a sector vital to global trade.

The first workshop of the Portuguese Presidency of the European Coast Guard Functions Forum (ECGFF), organized in partnership with the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) and the Directorate-General for Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services (DGRM), was held in Funchal from 23 to 25 January under the theme "Harnessing technology innovation for Coast Guard Operations and Enhanced Fisheries Control".

Around 100 participants from 23 countries attended the event, which discussed issues related to technological innovation in fisheries control and promoted the exchange of experience between authorities and coastguards. Three discussion panels and 18 presentations were held, resulting in important conclusions for the maritime sector in general and fisheries in particular, addressing not only issues of local interest but also regional and global concerns. The Forum highlighted the need for a holistic strategic approach, based on bilateral or multilateral partnerships, to achieve the desired level of maritime security and to allow the exercise of activities at sea within a regulated and controlled framework.

Portugal chairs the European Coast Guard Functions Forum, through the National Maritime Authority and the Republican National Guard, that has succeeded Belgium and has taken on the joint presidency of the European Coast Guard Functions Forum (ECGFF) from September 2023 to September 2024.  

Within this year, from September 2023, the ECGFF will organize numerous workshops covering several topics relevant to the Coast Guard. These objectives seek to enhance relationships with European member states and coast guard organizations, enabling the exchange of information and experiences to identify solutions for shared challenges.