Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 651/2011 of 5 July 2011 adopting the rules of procedure of the permanent cooperation framework established by Member States in cooperation with the Commission pursuant to Article 10 of Directive 2009/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council Text with EEA relevance

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Directive 2009/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 establishing the fundamental principles governing the investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector and amending Council Directive 1999/35/EC and Directive 2002/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (1), and in particular Article 10(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Directive 2009/18/EC requires the establishment, by Member States, in close cooperation with the Commission, of a permanent cooperation framework enabling their respective investigative bodies to cooperate among themselves to the extent necessary to attain the objective of the Directive.

(2) Directive 2009/18/EC requires the Commission to adopt the rules of procedure of this permanent cooperation framework.

(3) By letter of its Executive Director dated 20 December 2010 addressed to the European Commission services, the European Maritime Safety Agency has accepted to provide the secretariat for the permanent cooperation framework and to fund at least one meeting per year.

(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Safe Seas and the Prevention of Pollution from Ships,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The rules of procedure and organisation arrangements for the permanent cooperation framework referred to in Article 10(2) of Directive 2009/18/EC are set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 5 July 2011.

For the Commission The President José Manuel BARROSO

(1) OJ L 131, 28.5.2009, p. 114.