Article 38 of Regulation (EU) No 2025/2434 of the European Parliament AND OF THE COUNCIL of 26 November 2025 on the European Maritime Safety Agency and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002 , states: “By 19 January 2031, and every five years thereafter, the Commission shall conduct an evaluation to assess in particular the impact, effectiveness and efficiency of the Agency and its working practices, taking into account the opinion of the Management Board. That evaluation shall, in particular, address the possible need to amend the mandate of the Agency, in particular in order to take account of the development of Union law in the maritime transport field, and the financial implications of any such amendment, as well as the need to establish a scheme for fees and charges and to identify the services that the Agency may offer under such a scheme.”

The last evaluation from May 2017 concluded that by operating at EU level, EMSA is providing significant added value and has become an important and respected player in the maritime community. The agency’s efficiency has increased, demonstrated by a lower share of overhead expenditure, the accomplished new tasks without additional resources and also due to the performance management system used by the Agency.

Overall, the 2017 evaluation concluded that “a discontinuation or a reduction of EMSA’s mandate would have significant, negative impacts on maritime safety and security in Europe”.

The full evaluation report is available on the agency’s website.

The study concerning the possible revision of the Agency’s mandate initiated by the Commission in 2021 resulted in June 2023 in the Maritime Package composed of five legislative proposals. The revised flag State, port State control, accident investigation and ship source pollution Directives were adopted in November 2024 and the new EMSA Founding Regulation in November 2025: Regulation (EU) 2025/2434 of 26 November 2025 on the European Maritime Safety Agency and Repealing  Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002. 

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