1. IRCC-8 IHO-EU Network working group
“And seas but join the regions they divide”

2. Rationale
European directives and programmes on marine and maritime matters affect or intersect the IHO programme of work
MoU between IHO and the European Commission, signed during the XVIIIth IHC in Monaco

3. Objectives Identify EU activities on matters of interest to Hos
Establish a common understanding of the issues
Consider and propose ways to interface with EU activities through RHCs initiatives, the IRCC or the IHO in general
Facilitate common actions of HOs related to EU programmes 
Liaise with relevant HSSC WG for technical matters
Advise IRCC on the impact of EU activities in the maritime domain on the IHO programme of work

4. Chairman: Laurent Kerleguer (FR)
Membership
Members: representative from each RHC of which at least one EU/EEA member State is a member  ARHC (DK), NHC (NO), BSHC (SE), NSHC (DE), EAtHC (FR), MBSHC (GR)
Other RHCs or any IHO MS may be represented in the Network as associate members  MACHC (FR), SAIHC (FR), NIOHC (GB)
Chairman: Laurent Kerleguer (FR)

5. Meetings IENWG 3 - Saint-Mandé, France, (9-10 June 2015)
IENWG 4 - Saint-Mandé, France (18-19 January 2016)
IHB visit to DG MARE João Aguiar Machado (18 February)
Scope of activities of the IHO and its MSs
Relevance of these activities for several EC Directorates General, including capacity building issues in relation to development aid
Next meeting between IHO and EC: October 2016 (Brussels)
SE represented IENWG at the European Maritime Day 2016 in Turku (Finland) May

6. Work Programme (1/2) Coastal Mapping:
Assess current availability of digital coastal maps in the EU
Disseminate this information by EMODnet
Share experience of coastal mapping in the EU
Develop standards for best practices
Propose how a future JECMaP could operate
EMODNet: third phase
Maritime Spatial Planning: IENWG observer in the EC MSP experts group

7. Work Programme (2/2)
Encourage chairs of RHCs to consider implementing the model of the Baltic Sea bathymetric database in their region
Investigate possibilities to establish contact between the IHO- EU Network and the EU parliament Inter-Group on “seas, rivers, islands and coastal areas” (Searica)
Consider how the EU Directive on Marine Equipment could foster the requirement that software-based equipment such as ECDIS be updated to the latest version of the relevant standards

8. Conclusions and Recommended Actions
It is proposed to IRCC to endorse the work program of IENWG in annex of the report