The EU promotes international and regional cooperation, information-sharing, capability development, risk management and training to ensure safe, secure, and clean seas and oceans.

In addition to robust domestic policies, international maritime security cooperation that protects not only the external borders of countries, but also common natural resources and maritime infrastructures, offshore platforms, and scientific equipment, is critical to creating safe and secure seas.

Another key priority for maritime security cooperation is building resilience against and mitigating the impact of climate change on the marine and coastal environment.

Thirdly, from an economic standpoint, maritime security is also key in ensuring the safe and seamless flow of goods and the stability of the global trading system.

Maritime security has long been a shared priority for both the EU and ASEAN. Cooperation between the two regions has focused on responding to transnational maritime threats such as piracy, smuggling, illegal immigration, disaster risks and the impacts of pollution and climate change. Maritime security is also one of the main focus of France-ASEAN bilateral cooperation with regular deployments and stopovers of French vessels in the region in addition to the permanent French naval presence in Asia and Oceania.