PHOTOS COURTESY OF.CRIMARIO
More than 120 officials from 45 Indo-Pacific countries are meeting in Manila over the next three days to strengthen multinational governance of the IORIS platform — the EU-developed coordination and information-sharing system that has supported maritime security efforts since 2018. law.
The gathering marks the 3rd IORIS Steering Committee Policy Board and Working Groups Meeting and EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro opened the event by underscoring the shared responsibility of safeguarding stability at sea. He emphasized that the presence of diverse partners reflects a collective commitment to maintaining a peaceful, secure, and rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific, affirming the European Union’s readiness to bolster coordination, resilience, and freedom of navigation in line with international
Throughout the meeting, delegates will explore policy, operational, and technical priorities to enhance regional cooperation using IORIS — spanning the east coast of Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America. The program includes presentations of successful maritime operations enabled by the platform, such as narcotics interdiction, major Search and Rescue missions, counter-piracy coordination, and the fight against illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing.
EU CRIMARIO project director Martin Cauchi Inglott highlighted that the discussions aim to ensure IORIS continues evolving to meet user needs. He noted that feedback, operational exercises, and legal standards will guide the platform’s development to strengthen trust and operational readiness across agencies.
Acknowledging that maritime threats cut across borders, participants will map out strategies for more efficient interagency use of IORIS to support rapid and coordinated responses to emerging challenges at sea.
National Maritime Centre Director Vadm Roy A. Echeverria stressed that the meeting builds on the momentum of the recent EU-Philippines Security and Defence Dialogue. He said the collaboration will deepen strategic ties and expand cooperation on maritime security, hybrid threats, and regional resilience — all anchored in the rule of law and shared commitment to a stable maritime domain.
The conference will also outline recent updates to the platform, including IORIS Prime and Lite, as well as future mobile applications designed to enhance performance, usability, and operational impact. Delegates will identify successes and challenges, and agree on priority improvements and follow-up actions.
In addition, plans for upcoming IORIS training programs and exercises will be discussed, focusing on frequency, partner participation, and exercise levels to ensure agencies remain prepared for evolving maritime threats.
The Legal Working Group will examine the admissibility of digital evidence across jurisdictions, work toward a common stance on evidence obtained via IORIS, and define the steps required for ISO 27001 certification to ensure robust and compliant digital evidence management.