Article 12 — European cooperation on coast guard functions

1. The Agency shall, in cooperation with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), and the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), each within their respective mandates, support national authorities carrying out coast guard functions at national and Union level and, where appropriate, at international level by: (a) sharing, fusing and analysing information available in ship reporting systems and other information systems hosted by or accessible to those agencies, in accordance with their respective legal bases and without prejudice to the ownership of data by Member States; (b) providing with state-of-the art surveillance and communication services, including space-based and ground infrastructure and sensors mounted on any kind of platform; (c) building capacity by drawing up guidelines and recommendations and by establishing best practices as well as by providing training and exchange of staff; (d) enhancing the exchange of information and cooperation on coast guard functions, including by analysing operational challenges and emerging risks in the maritime domain; (e) sharing capacity by planning and implementing multipurpose operations and by sharing assets and other capabilities, to the extent that those activities are coordinated by those agencies and are agreed to by the competent authorities of the Member States concerned. 2. Without prejudice to the powers of the Management Board set out in Article 15, the precise forms of cooperation on coast guard functions between the Agency, Frontex and the EFCA shall be determined in a working arrangement, in accordance with their respective mandates and the financial rules applicable to those agencies. Such an arrangement shall be approved by the Management Board, the management board of Frontex and the Administrative Board of the EFCA. 3. The Commission shall, in close cooperation with the Member States, the Agency, Frontex and the EFCA, make available a practical handbook on European cooperation on coast guard functions. That handbook shall contain guidelines, recommendations and best practices for the exchange of information. The Commission shall adopt the handbook in the form of a recommendation. 4. The tasks set out in this Article shall be without prejudice to the Agency’s tasks referred to in Articles 4 to 11 or to the Member States’ rights and obligations, in particular as flag States, port States or coastal States.