1Council 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)

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 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). , 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 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). , 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 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). , 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 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). , 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..

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