'Blue growth' in Black Sea?
Damanaki: Wants to 'overcome fragmentation and create linkages between different sectors'
A brainstorming event to discuss ideas about the future of cooperation in the Black Sea was hosted on 14 October by Maritime Affairs Commissioner Maria Damanaki.
Damanaki recognised that while each country has ideas of what it wants to achieve in the Black Sea, the real challenge is to work together towards a common vision for the entire sea basin. All countries and actors must be involved and integrated for growth to progress in a fair and sustainable way.
The assets of the Black Sea include it being a tourist destination and a body through which goods, people, fish, gas and oil pass through from Russia to the Caspian Sea. Additionally, fish, natural minerals, and alternative energy sources all come from the Black Sea.
The two main topics Damanaki discussed are fisheries and maritime affairs. The stock of fisheries in the Black Sea is being monitored by the European Commission, Romania and Bulgaria, but all Black Sea states must be involved and cooperate for the efficient management of sustainable stocks. A Fisheries Advisory Council has been set up and Damanaki requested opinions and advice on how to get all Black Sea countries to work together. She suggested starting with scientific and research co-operation.
The second topic is maritime affairs. There are many sectors competing for space: transport, energy, tourism, fisheries, and marine aquaculture. Additionally, attention must also be paid to good environmental practices. Cross-border dialogue is needed to be organise maritime planning and allow everyone to develop their businesses.
A 'blue growth' proposal from the Commission aims at “overcoming fragmentation and creating linkages between different sectors.” Focus has been placed on aquaculture, maritime tourism and non wind energy projects like current, tidal, algae and sea thermal energies. The brainstorming event was supposed to encourage new ideas relating to the 'blue growth' proposal.
Damanaki concluded by saying that political blocs could not be permitted to constrict work or maritime matters, and asked how the EU's Black Sea Synergy framework of 2007 could best work with the Black Sea Economic Co-operation of 1992. Her stated goal is to have a single maritime and fisheries fund by 2014, and she said that events such as the brainstorming session will help to integrate future policies.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Trainee Reporter, New Europe
Marina Lynch is currently finishing her Bachelor's degree in International Affairs & Communications at Vesalius College, Brussels. She has also worked as a writer and photographer for the 'Voices' section of The Reading Eagle, Pennsylvania, US.
