Answer given by Mr Avramopoulos on behalf of the Commission

25.2.2016

The necessary installations for participating in the Seahorse Mediterranean network have been finished in the national coordination centres of Spain, Portugal, France and Cyprus in 2015. Greece, Italy and Malta will do so in the course of 2016, latest early 2017.

Algeria has signalled to the Commission that it has no interest in participating in the Seahorse Mediterranean network. Tunisia and Egypt have neither accepted nor rejected any participation.

The Seahorse Mediterranean network is a communication platform, which, once established, will enable the participants to exchange information in a fast and secure manner. However, there is no obligation to exchange information, as the information exchange takes place on a voluntary basis, and there are no provisions on joint patrolling.