The conference concluded that a regional maritime strategy can succeed, if it results from a bottom-up process involving coastal communities and maritime stakeholders. To support this process, the Commission has launched today a EUR 1 million technical assistance project, called Facility for Blue Economy Development in Black Sea.

Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries said: "It is my belief that the annual high-level stakeholder conference on Black Sea should be maintained as a regular platform for discussion among the riparian states of the region to strengthen their commitment and develop their dialogue on how to enhance blue economy. As a follow-up of the conference, the European Commission will set in motion a project of technical support, a Facility for Blue Economy Development, which will be open particularly to the non-EU country Black Sea countries interested in integrated maritime policy. The project will help these countries to discover how to better reap the economic benefits of our seas in a sustainable manner and also how to develop a common maritime agenda for Black Sea".

The conference brought together public authorities, business, financial institutions and the research community from the Black Sea countries, including Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.

Participants also discussed the progress made in implementing the 2016 Bucharest declaration on sustainable fisheries and discussed actions to improve the sustainability of fishing resources, such as improving scientific advice, encouraging sustainable small-scale fisheries, increase capacity building, and intensify the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the sea basin.

A number of technical workshops took place where participants discussed how to promote blue growth, share innovative business practices, improve marine knowledge and enhance the marine environment in Black Sea. They also had the opportunity to identify sources of funding for maritime projects and explore partnership.

More information

Background information on Black Sea policy