The complex nature of maritime safety and security makes cooperation a priority, in Europe and at international level. Within the EU and international Coast Guard network, several cooperation forums bring all relevant actors together.The complex nature of maritime safety and security makes cooperation a priority, in Europe and at international level. Within the EU and international Coast Guard network, several cooperation forums bring all relevant actors together.

European Coast Guard Functions Forum

Bringing together over 35 national coast guard authorities from EU countries and associated Schengen countries, ECGFF works on collaborative issues such as multi-agency, multinational operations and capacity-building among coast guard academies. This cooperation forum enables coordination of work on specific aspects, such as maritime information sharing, cyber-security, analysis of risks at sea and capacity building. As an observer, EMSA participates in the works of the Forum, raising awareness on the existing cooperation mechanisms and streamlining the relevant activities carried out under its mandate. Furthermore, the Agency supports the ECGFF Secretariat and funds one workshop per year, provided that its topics and scope are agreed in advance and contribute to the implementation of the priorities set by the Agencies in the Strategic Annual Plan for inter-agency cooperation on coast guard functions.

European Coast Guard Functions Training Network

The European Coast Guard Functions Training Network (ECGF Training Network) is a voluntary association of educational institutions providing education in the field of coast guard functions in the member states of the European Coast Guard Functions Forum (ECGFF). The Network has developed an ECGF Training Portal for sharing information between the Network members and created the Sectoral qualifications framework for coast guard functions (CGFSQF).

Mediterranean Coast Guard Cooperation Forum

The MCGFF is a non-binding, non-political and independent platform composed of 24 Mediterranean countries. The MCGFF brings together the representatives of competent organizations and institutions which engage in coast guard activities in the Mediterranean. It primarily aims at developing potential partnerships and enhancing cooperation among its member states to conduct activities in many fields ranging from maritime security and safety to environment protection. The Forum also seeks common solutions to the challenges that the participating countries might face. EMSA supports the participation of non-EU States in the MCGFF through the SAFEMED IV Project and acts as facilitator by hosting meetings of the Secretariat.

North Atlantic Coast Guard forum

The objective of the North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum (NACGF) is to increase cooperation amongst member countries on maritime safety and security in the north Atlantic region. The NACGF is a non-binding, voluntary forum between 20 member-states, founded in 2007. The member countries of the NACGF are Belgium, Iceland, Portugal, Canada, Ireland, Russia, Denmark, Latvia, Spain, Estonia, Lithuania, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, United Kingdom, France, Norway, United States, Germany, Poland.

Arctic Coast Guard Forum

The Arctic Coast Guard Forum (ACGF) is another example of an independent, informal, operationally-driven organization, not bound by treaty, to foster safe, secure, and environmentally responsible maritime activity in the Arctic.

Coast Guard Global Summit

The Coast Guard Global Summit (CGGS) is an initiative supported by the Japan Coast Guard to gather together the Heads of Coast Guard from all over the world. The aim is to build and strengthen cooperation and collaboration amongst the coast guard communities worldwide beyond existing regional frameworks. The last Coast Guard Global Summit was held in 2019 with the participation of 78 countries and 86 delegations from Asia, America, Europe, Oceania and other regions across the world.