Date: 2025-07-21Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/1498 of 18 July 2025 amending Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP on a European Union military operation to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA)
Executive Summary:
Council Decision CFSP 2025/1498, adopted on July 18, 2025, amends Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP, which established EUNAVFOR ATALANTA. The amendment aligns EUNAVFOR ATALANTA's mandate with EUNAVFOR ASPIDES regarding monitoring and reporting on shadow fleets. The decision entered into force on the date of its adoption.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Mandate Alignment:** EUNAVFOR ATALANTA's mandate is aligned to that of EUNAVFOR ASPIDES.
* **Information Collection and Sharing:**
* EUNAVFOR ATALANTA will collect information on arms trafficking and shadow fleets within its Area of Operation, in addition to data necessary to implement its other tasks.
* This information will be shared with Member States, the Commission, UNODC, Interpol, Europol, and the IMO, as appropriate.
Impact Analysis:
Member States:
* Impact: Will receive information on arms trafficking and shadow fleets collected by EUNAVFOR ATALANTA.
* Action Required: Integrate the shared information into their maritime security strategies and law enforcement efforts.
European Commission:
* Impact: Will receive information on arms trafficking and shadow fleets collected by EUNAVFOR ATALANTA.
* Action Required: Utilize the shared information to inform relevant policy decisions and coordinate actions.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC):
* Impact: Will receive information on arms trafficking and shadow fleets collected by EUNAVFOR ATALANTA.
* Action Required: Integrate the shared information into their efforts to combat transnational organized crime.
International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol):
* Impact: Will receive information on arms trafficking and shadow fleets collected by EUNAVFOR ATALANTA.
* Action Required: Utilize the shared information to enhance international law enforcement cooperation.
European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol):
* Impact: Will receive information on arms trafficking and shadow fleets collected by EUNAVFOR ATALANTA.
* Action Required: Integrate the shared information into their efforts to support law enforcement in EU Member States.
International Maritime Organisation (IMO):
* Impact: Will receive information on arms trafficking and shadow fleets collected by EUNAVFOR ATALANTA.
* Action Required: Utilize the shared information to enhance maritime security and safety regulations.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
West Indian Ocean: A region in the Indian Ocean, important due to maritime security concerns.
Red Sea: A sea located between Africa and Asia, connected to the Indian Ocean, and crucial for maritime trade.
EUNAVFOR ATALANTA: A European Union military operation to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.
EUNAVFOR ASPIDES: A European Union maritime security operation to safeguard freedom of navigation in relation to the Red Sea crisis.
Council Decision CFSP 2025/1498: Council Decision amending Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP on EUNAVFOR ATALANTA.
Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP: A Joint Action establishing a European Union military operation (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA) to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.
International Maritime Organisation: A United Nations specialized agency responsible for maritime safety and security.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/1498 21.7.2025
COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2025/1498
of 18 July 2025
amending Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP on a European Union military operation to contribute to
maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 42(4) and Article 43(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
(1) On 10 November 2008, the Council adopted Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP(1), which established a European Union
military operation to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR
ATALANTA). On 16 December 2024, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2024/3186(2), which amended Joint
Action 2008/851/CFSP and extended EUNAVFOR ATALANTA until 28 February 2027.
(2) On 8 February 2024, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2024/583(3), which established a European Union
maritime security operation to safeguard freedom of navigation in relation to the Red Sea crisis (EUNAVFOR
ASPIDES).
(3) On 14 February 2025, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2025/334(4), which extended EUNAVFOR ASPIDES
until 28 February 2026 and expanded its mandate to include the task of ensuring maritime situation awareness in its
Area of Operation by collecting information, in addition to data necessary to protect vessels, on arms trafficking and
on shadow fleets, with a view to sharing that information with Member States, the Commission, the United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime, the International Criminal Police Organisation, the European Union Agency for Law
Enforcement Cooperation and the International Maritime Organisation, as appropriate.
(4) On 24 June 2025, the Political and Security Committee agreed that the mandate of EUNAVFOR ATALANTA should
be aligned to that of EUNAVFOR ASPIDES as regards monitoring and reporting on shadow fleets.
(5) Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP should be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
In Article 1 of Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP, the following paragraph is added:
‘7. In order to ensure maritime situational awareness in the Area of Operation, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA shall collect
information, in addition to data necessary to implement its other tasks, on arms trafficking and on shadow fleets, with
a view to sharing that information with Member States, the Commission, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
(UNODC), the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement
Cooperation (Europol) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), as appropriate.’.
(1) Council Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP of 10 November 2008 on a European Union military operation to contribute to maritime
security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA) (OJ L 301, 12.11.2008, p. 33, ELI: http://data.
europa.eu/eli/joint_action/2008/851/oj).
(2) Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/3186 of 16 December 2024 amending Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP on a European Union military
operation to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA) (OJ L,
2024/3186, 17.12.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/3186/oj).
(3) Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/583 of 8 February 2024 on a European Union maritime security operation to safeguard freedom of
navigation in relation to the Red Sea crisis (EUNAVFOR ASPIDES) (OJ L, 2024/583, 12.2.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/
2024/583/oj).
(4) Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/334 of 14 February 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2024/583 on a European Union maritime
security operation to safeguard freedom of navigation in relation to the Red Sea crisis (EUNAVFOR ASPIDES) (OJ L, 2025/334,
17.2.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/334/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1498/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 21.7.2025
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 18 July 2025.
For the Council
The President
M. BJERRE
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1498/oj