At a session of the Subcommittee on Security and Defense of the European Parliament on the 17th of March the state of current counter-piracy was discussed. Marcus Houben from the EEAS, head of the support team of the EU chairmanship of the Contact Group ,and Alan Cole, Director of the UNODC’s Maritime Crime Programme gave a presentations. Mr. Houben highlighted why the CGPCS works so well as a mechanism, and that it was instrumental in coping with the piracy situation. He stressed that the CGPCS it is a role model for how to organize effective multi-lateral crisis responses. Mr. Cole emphasized why further efforts will be required not only to contain piracy, but deal with the broader maritime security situation in the Western Indian Ocean region. The video of the presentation is available here and the full transcript of Mr. Houben’s presentation here.