Black Sea Common Maritime Agenda Stakeholder Conference 2023
Joining efforts for a sustainable, modern and competitive blue economy in the Black Sea / 22-23 November in Bucharest
This two-day event was a gateway to the latest sustainable blue economy developments in the region, in terms of investment, innovation and sustainability. The conference targeted to bring together voices from various sectors, backgrounds, and experiences to address crucial challenges and opportunities in the Black Sea basin. From the marine environment to investment, entrepreneurship, and skills, the two-days of talks and activities provided a platform for knowledge sharing and collaborative efforts towards unleashing the full potential of the Black Sea sustainable blue economy.
UBBSLA, represented by executive director Mariana Ivanova and the project coordinator Polina Antonova, participated in Black Sea Common Maritime Agenda Stakeholder Conference on November 22-23. The event was hosted by the European Commission and Romania, at the headquarters of the National Bank of Romania in Bucharest, and gathered over 150 participants from six countries.
The Common Maritime Agenda (CMA) is the first initiative of its kind, meant to strengthen regional cooperation and the sustainable blue economy. The implementation of the CMA is ensured through annual coordination, by rotation, by one of the 6 participating states – Bulgaria, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine. The Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea sets the following goals to help generate sustainable growth in coastal regions:
- Healthy marine and coastal ecosystems;
- A competitive, innovative and sustainable blue economy for the Black Sea, and
- Fostering Investment in the Black Sea blue economy.
CMA implementation is made possible by pooling and alignment of available and future funding opportunities by participating countries, the European Commission, international financial institutions and other donors. The Black Sea Assistance Mechanism is supported by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). It is implemented by the European Climate Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) of the European Commission. Participating countries, supported by the BSAM and the National Hubs, are called to use the CMA as a tool for working on joint sustainable blue economy projects, including bankable investment projects, in line with the goals, priorities and actions of the Agenda. These goals are further declined into 10 priorities and actions for the promotion of enhanced cooperation on maritime affairs and blue economy among the participating countries.
The international event in Bucharest was officially open by welcome speech from Mr. Traian Hristea, Secretary of State for Global Affairs and Diplomatic Strategies (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Romania) and Mrs. Charlina Vitcheva, Director General, Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE). A strong Bulgarian representation was felt at the conference. During the Opening panel: The Common Maritime Agenda as a key opportunity for the Black Sea sustainable blue economy, Mrs. Iglika Yakova, Deputy Head of Unit (DG MARE) presented the Common Maritime Agenda in the context of the EU sea-basin strategies. Victoria HRISTOVA, Executive Director and Board member, Fund of Funds in Bulgaria (FMFIB) participated in the 2nd thematic session: Fostering investment for entrepreneurship. Boosting a Smart Specialization approach to regional investment in innovation was debated by Mrs. Silvia Stumpf (Business Agency Association, Varna) during the 3rd thematic session: Boosting Innovation and Blue skills.
