Article 2(c)(i) of EMSA regulation 1406/2002/EC provides the Agency with the ongoing task to: “work with the Member States to organise, where appropriate, relevant training activities in fields which are the responsibility of the port State and flag State”.

On the basis of this mandate, EMSA organises training sessions for the 27 EU Member States, Norway and Iceland with the aim to assist national administrations in developing a practical approach to the interpretation and implementation of EU maritime legislation.

EMSA training activities are organised following the advice of the Consultative Network on Technical Assistance (CNTA), which is composed of representatives from the maritime administration of the 27 EU Member States, Norway and Iceland. The network was established in 2006 and meets once per year to discuss and define the scope of EMSA’s training programme for the following calendar year. The final programme is based on national priorities indicated by the CNTA’s focal points and is usually agreed by consensus.

There are no fees associated with the participation at EMSA trainings and normally one participant per EU/EEA member state is fully reimbursed by EMSA.

An additional objective of the Agency is to foster cooperation between Member States and to assist them in the areas where they need support. If national administrations believe that they require some assistance, they are invited to channel their requests for assistance through their CNTA focal points.

Further ad hoc assistance is provided to the European Commission in the implementation and monitoring of specific EU funded projects for European neighbouring countries such as SAFEMED Projects I and II.

In addition, the team undertakes a number of horizontal tasks, including the preparation and updating of the EMSA study "Overview of 29 European maritime administrations".