The Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea has been adopted!

On the 21st of May 2019, Ministers and Vice-Ministers from Bulgaria, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine have met in Bucharest  to endorse the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea. 

The Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea  represents a follow-up to the commitment of the 2018 Burgas Ministerial Declaration “Towards a Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea” and a result of a process initiated and backed by the European Commission for the implementation of the Black Sea Synergy. Its adoption was one of the priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council, within the third pillar – „Europe, as a stronger global actor”. 

The Agenda focuses on fields related to the „blue economy”,  which can contribute to the sustainable economic development of the region and especially of the coastal regions.

Its main goals are:

1. Healthy marine and coastal ecosystems (ensuring the protection and sustainability of the marine ecosystem, addressing marine pollution and plastic litter, supporting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, as well as innovative marine research infrastructures, and encouraging the production, management and sharing of marine and coastal environmental knowledge for effective environmental monitoring and observation);
2. A competitive, innovative and sustainable blue economy for the Black Sea (fostering innovative business models, stimulate research and innovation, and sustainable growth and up-to-date jobs, promote transport and digital connectivity, as well as blue skills and blue careers as an engine for innovation and competitiveness);
3. Fostering Investment in the Black Sea blue economy (improving access to financial resources and promote sustainable investment in the blue economy, and promoting maritime entrepreneurship and clusters).

The Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea is available at the following link: https://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/press/black-sea-ministers-endorse-common-maritime-agenda_en .

More information is also available online at: https://www.romania2019.eu/event/ministerial-conference-on-the-eu-black-sea-maritime-initiative/ .