ECGFA NET Fact Sheet

European Coast Guard Functions Academy Network for European Sectorial Qualifications Framework for Coast Guarding - ECGFA NET

Objectives

• To support the establishment of a Coast Guard Functions Academies Network that would strengthen cooperation between CGF authorities.
• To increase student and expert exchange between CG authorities and academies.
• To design and construct a Training Portal under ECGFF websites.
• To plan and design the basis for a voluntary Sectorial Qualification Framework for Coast Guard Functions (CGFSQF).
• To follow the specifications of the European Qualification Framework (EQF) for harmonising and improving educational collaboration and student/expert mobility.

Achieved results

• European Coast Guard Functions Training Network Established (ECGF Training Network)
• European Coast Guard Functions Training Portal (ECGF Training Portal) constructed and launched
• Basic elements and minimum requirements for a Sectorial Qualifications Framework for Coast Guard Functions (CGFSQF) identified; Recommendations for next steps in defining the CGFSQF developed.
• Recommendations on European Coast Guard Functions Student and Expert Exchange Developed
• Recommendations on Coast Guard Functions training for EU and third countries developed

Coordinator

Finnish Border Guard

Affiliated entities / Contributors

Italian Coast Guard; Armed Forces of Malta; DGDDI French Customs, Romanian Naval Academy of Constanta; Guardia Civil (Spain); Guarda Nacional Republicana (Portugal); German Federal Police; UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency; Hellenic Coast Guard (Greece); Spanish Customs and Excises; SASEMAR (Spain); Cyprus Police Academy; Spanish Navy

Observers

European Space Agency; Guardia di Finanza (Italy); European Fisheries Control Agency; Frontex; European Union Satellite Centre; Swedish Coast Guard; European Police College (CEPOL)

Work Packages

The project was divided into four Work Packages (WP)

WP 1: Administration, coordination and reporting, WP leader: Finnish Border Guard

WP 2: Construction of the ECGFA Network, WP leader: Finnish Border Guard

WP 3: Designing, construction and implementation of an online training portal, WP leader: Spanish Maritime Safety Agency SASEMAR

WP 4: Elements of a Coast Guard Functions Sectorial Qualification Framework (CGFSQF), WP leader: Italian Coast Guard

Duration and Budget

14 months, January 2015 - February 2016

Ca. 800 000 euros, of which 80 % covered with funding from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)