INCD pentru GEOLOGIE SI GEOECOLOGIE MARINA - GEOECOMAR
GeoEcoMar
GeoEcoMar is the Romanian Research and Development National Institute for Marine Geology and Geo-ecology under the coordination of the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research.
ID: 299160297001-47
Lobbying Activity
Response to EU strategic approach to the Black Sea
30 Apr 2025
The Black Sea has been the focus of relevant EU-led activities, mainly the Common Maritime Agenda and its scientific direction the Black Sea Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda. Both these strategic documents were launched officially in 2019 (after years of joint effort from individuals and government representatives from the Black Sea countries and EU expertise) and endorsed by the Black Sea countries and the SRIA also endorsed by the Eu member states. After the creation of these connected agendas, the EC launched dedicated calls for their implementation. DG RTD has funded two dedicated calls 2019 and 2020 which resulted in the H2020 BS CONNECT, DOORS and BRIDGE BS Projects. The twin projects DOORS and BRIDGE-BAS focused on the implementation of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda - and have succeeded in doing so in spite of the most difficult times of pandemic and war. The scientific community, together with all the categories of stakeholders, from local, regional and national administrations, citizens, educators, business representatives and academia, proved that all the objectives were brought to life, in spite of the extremely difficult period. As coordinator of the DOORS Project, I can only praise the dedication of all the colleagues to prove that we can succeed and keeping normality in difficult times is already a major step forward. None of the work would have been possible without the EU permanent support which has meant not just the funding but also the hope implied by the sheer existence of these projects. Now, in times of war, the Black Sea proves again its extremely important geostrategic position and all those involved in any way in the above mentioned projects look forward to Europe to strengthen its presence in the region not just through declarations but with clear and concrete actions such as support in new collaborative projects. The Black Sea has become an European Sea even though it has not been yet supported through a dedicated call on the Digital Twin of the Ocean. The efforts initiated to develop the Blue Economy also need further support, as it happens in all the other marine basins. But the Black Sea has also the major potential of bringing all countries (EU, Western Balkans and EU Eastern Neighbourhood) together if we take into account the sea`s specificity! The hydrographic basins bringing their waters to the Black Sea are several times wider than the Black Sea itself! And the evolution and ultimate management of the sea and everything related to it depends on a proper full systems approach that incorporates the River-to-Sea approach. A successful Blue Growth means a successful river basin management that needs a major support as it cover EU and non-EU countries alike (like the Western Balkans countries in the Danube Basin, with Ukraine, Moldova, Turkey and Georgia already at the sea, whilst Armenia and Azerbaijan are riparian of the southern river basins connected to the same sea). Under these circumstances, with the local communities expecting with hope a concrete sign of action and support from the EU, dedicated R&I programmes and projects supporting the afore mentioned topics (including plans for integrated and hollistic river-sea management applied for the hydrographic basins riparian to the Black Sea) are really needed and are the foundation of the European soft power establishing the science diplomacy in the region.
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