EMSA has a legal status of “Community Agency”. A Community agency is a body governed by European public law; it is distinct from the Community Institutions (Council, Parliament, Commission, etc.) and has its own legal personality. It is set up by an act of secondary legislation in order to accomplish a very specific technical, scientific or managerial task.
EMSA does not create new laws. However, its experts provide advice to the European Union institutions, and in certain areas assists the European Commission in its contribution to international maritime lawmaking at the IMO (International Maritime Organization) level.
