5.8.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 208/1 | (Acts whose publication is obligatory) REGULATION (EC) No 1406/2002 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 27 June 2002 establishing a European Maritime Safety Agency (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 80(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (%), Acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty (%), Whereas: (1) A large number of legislative measures have been adopted in the Community in order to enhance safety and prevent pollution in maritime transport. In order to be effective, such legislation must be applied in a proper and uniform manner throughout the Community. This will ensure a level playing field, reduce the distortion of competition resulting from the economic advantages enjoyed by non-complying ships and will reward the serious maritime players. (2)  Certain tasks currently done at Community or national level could be executed by a specialised expert body. Indeed, there is a need for technical and scientific support and a high level of stable expertise to properly apply the Community legislation in the fields of maritime safety and ship pollution prevention, to () OJ C 120 E, 24.4.2001, p. 83 and O] C 103 E, 30.4.2002, p. 184. () 0] C 221, 7.8.2001, p. 64. () O] C 357, 14.12.2001, p. 1. (% Opinion of the European Parliament of 14 June 2001 (O] C 53 E, 28.2.2002, p. 312), Council Common Position of 7 March 2002 (O] C 119 E, 22.5.2002, p. 27) and Decision of the European Parliament of 12 June 2002 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 25 June 2002. monitor its implementation and to evaluate the effectiveness of the measures in place. There is a need therefore, within the Community's existing institutional structure and balance of powers, to establish a European Maritime Safety Agency (‘the Agency). (3) In general terms, the Agency should represent the technical body providing the Community with the necessary means to act effectively to enhance overall maritime safety and ship pollution prevention rules. The Agency should assist the Commission in the continuous process of updating and developing Community legislation in the field of maritime safety and prevention of pollution by ships and should provide the necessary support to ensure the convergent and effective implementation of such legislation throughout the Community by assisting the Commission in performing the tasks assigned to the latter by existing and future Community legislation on maritime safety and ship pollution prevention. (4)  For the proper achievement of the purposes for which the Agency is established, it is appropriate that the Agency carries out a number of other important tasks aimed at enhancing maritime safety and ship pollution prevention in the waters of the Member States. In this respect, the Agency should work with Member States to organise appropriate training activities on port State control and flag State related issues and to provide technical assistance related to the implementation of Community legislation. It should facilitate cooperation between the Member States and the Commission as provided for in Directive 2002/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2002 establishing a Community vessel traffic monitoring and information system and repealing Council Directive 93/75/EEC (°), namely by developing and operating any information system necessary for the objectives of that Directive, and in the activities concerning the investigations related to serious maritime accidents. It (°) See page 10 of this Official Journal.