Article 1 — Subject matter and scope

1. This Regulation establishes the European Maritime Safety Agency (the Agency). The Agency as established by this Regulation shall replace and succeed the European Maritime Safety Agency as established by Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002. 2. This Regulation provides comprehensive rules on the Agency’s tasks, functioning and governance. 3. The Agency shall assist the Member States and the Commission in the effective application and implementation of Union law related to maritime transport across the Union. To that end, the Agency shall cooperate with the Member States and the Commission and provide them with technical, operational and scientific assistance within the scope of the Agency’s objectives and tasks set out in Article 2 and Chapters II and III. 4. By providing the assistance referred to in paragraph 3, the Agency shall in particular support the Member States and the Commission in applying the relevant Union legal acts and in contributing to the overall efficiency of maritime traffic and maritime transport as set out in this Regulation, so as to facilitate the achievement of the Union’s objectives in the maritime transport domain. 5. Any assistance provided by the Agency and any task set out in Articles 4 to 11 shall be without prejudice to the Member States’ rights and responsibilities.