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The Commission on the Black Sea is a civil society initiative, jointly developed and launched in January 2009 by the German Bertelsmann Stiftung, Gütersloh; the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation (BST - GMFUS), Bucharest; the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV), Ankara; and the International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS), Athens.
Among members of the Commission on the Black Sea are a former vice prime minister, former ministers, current and former parliamentarians, public intellectuals and scholars from the whole Black Sea region, the European Union and the United States. The Commission’s work has been supported and complemented by several individuals from different countries, who wish to remain anonymous due to their current official affiliations or for personal reasons. All members serve on the Commission in a personal capacity.
Between January and April 2010, the Commission on the Black Sea published four policy reports each addressing the themes of democracy, socio-economic welfare, regional cooperation, and security. It issued its final report titled A 2020 Vision for the Black Sea Region – A Report of the Commission on the Black Sea on 17 May 2010 with a public event in Istanbul. The rapporteurs are Dimitrios Triantaphyllou, the Director General of the ICBSS and Mustafa Aydin, the Rector of Kadir Has University while its editor is Tim Judah, a correspondent of The Economist. The Report and the four policy reports can be found on the ICBSS website and on the website of the Commission.
Below are its eight principal recommendations which each contain the seeds of further elaboration. I hope they are a source of inspirations to all interested parties.
Policy Recommendations
2020 Vision – A Black Sea Dimension
The setting of consensus targets for the region is important. We should work towards proposing mid-term recommendations with 2020 in sight. We assume that by then, the countries of the Western Balkans will have become EU members, that there should be a clearer picture regarding Turkey’s membership and debate on which, if any, of the other countries of the region will join, will have crystallised. This would entail the creation, by the countries and actors of the region, of a new overarching concept and policy; a Black Sea Dimension. The aim of this would be to promote regional cooperation while anticipating changes in the neighbourhood. The necessity of thinking about a new concept for the region is only underscored by the fact that most existing ideas and policies for and about the Black Sea were conceived before the August 2008 war. The Dimension should also take into consideration ongoing discussions regarding a new European security framework. The 2020 Vision needs to be developed into a clear strategy which should mark the culmination of several linked initiatives.
Enhance the profile of Black Sea regionalism
The first chapter in the history of BSEC has ended but a new one has not yet been properly opened. It is in need of rejuvenation. Preparations should begin without delay for a summit in 2012 to mark the 20th anniversary of the organisation. This must not be a mere festive occasion. It should be an opportunity to renew the commitment of its members to regional cooperation and to inaugurate an overhauled BSEC in order to make it a more relevant regional organisation with greater clout. Such steps, which should be in line with other international commitments undertaken by BSEC member states, could include:
• Setting specific targets and deadlines for the development of a system of legally binding commitments and implementation mechanisms. These should cover the main areas of BSEC concern where a regional approach provides value added compared to the individual efforts of member states.
• Agreeing on a substantial augmentation of the BSEC budget, based on proportional contributions, in order to enable BSEC to co-finance major projects of regional interest. This could also be done through the creation of specific funds, similar to the Hellenic Development Fund. The resources of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank should be harnessed for this.
• Adding a specific security dimension to BSEC activities, relying mainly on confidence-building measures and increased transparency.
• Developing an inclusive mechanism for regular consultation and coordination between BSEC and all the other regional organisations and initiatives, (governmental and non-governmental,) as well as with “extra-regional” partners.
• All members should undertake to actually devote, as opposed to just declaring that they will, at least one cabinet meeting a year to an examination of Black Sea regional cooperation matters and to report accordingly to their parliaments as well as to the BSEC parliamentary assembly.
• BSEC’s rebirth, expanded role and enhanced regional relevance should be symbolised by giving it a new name. A region-wide awareness raising competition could be opened for everyone in the region to suggest what it might be and also to design a new logo and flag for it.
Deal with the conflicts – Start real security dialogue and confidence-building measures
As part of our 2020 Vision we see an urgent need to tackle the protracted conflicts and other outstanding issues of the region. The Commission proposes to establish a high level consultative group in order to assess the issues and search for solutions. The group should eventually suggest ways to provide international guarantees for the implementation of any peace agreements. In the interim it should propose confidence-building measures in order to mitigate the corrosive impact of the conflicts on the goal and vision of putting the whole Black Sea region at a qualitative new level. The feasibility of an international gathering, preferably at a summit level, involving the Black Sea states and international stakeholders should be the end point for any or all of these processes.
There is a need for the region’s stakeholders to contribute to the ongoing debate about a new security architecture for Europe, as this discussion has immediate ramifications for the Black Sea which could be described as the shared neighbourhood of both the EU and Russia. As part of this discussion, a renewed assessment of already existing mechanisms, such as the OSCE or the CFE treaty, and agreed upon measures under such mechanisms, is needed. Within this context, the Commission proposes a number of confidence-building measures from hotlines between foreign ministers to regular meetings of senior officials of the foreign and defence ministries of the region in order to stress the need for regional solutions to regional problems. Establishing a structured security dialogue on relevant issues ranging from civil protection to coordination regarding man-made or natural disasters, migration and organised crime would be a valuable addition.
Focus on economic issues that meet common challenges and real needs
Promote the principles of sustainable development as the guiding philosophy of regional cooperation in the Black Sea area. In this way we should seek to restore and preserve a rational and enduring equilibrium between economic development and the integrity of the natural environment in ways that society can understand and accept. Rational responses to the consequences of climate change and the responsible use of natural, human and societal resources are essential components of such a development model, which should be translated into coherent policies at national and regional level. Human and knowledge capital should be considered an integral part of a sustainable development model.
Since the on-going global financial and economic crisis has severely affected most countries in the Black Sea region, it is essential to supplement the mitigation measures taken in each country with a concerted regional approach to post-crisis recovery programmes relying on the concept of sustainable development.
Since economies are increasingly interlinked, decisions or actions in one country often impact neighbouring states, thus creating common challenges which require cooperation and communication. The basis for such cooperation may entail undertaking new initiatives to create physical linkages, for example cross-country infrastructure and institutional linkages. These could include policy coordination and harmonisation, cross-country regulation, enhanced information sharing in order to stimulate growth and overlapping activities. Alternatively, the basis of cooperation may be economic security oriented, in the sense of avoiding misunderstandings or undertaking policies which may have adverse “beggar thy neighbour” impacts. Cooperation could also aim to mitigate the negative effects of economic downturns, to pool information or resources to create early warning systems or reciprocal assistance mechanisms or to reduce the vulnerability of countries to crises in the future and to devising forms of insurance. The key is for cooperation to meet real and identified needs which have tangible, achievable solutions and appropriate cost benefit ratios.
Take policy measures to improve the business environment and to facilitate greater economic activity across borders. These should include concrete steps to facilitate business activity by removing various non-tariff barriers that hinder trade, investment or financing. This may be done by agreements relating to specific activities, for example customs procedures and visas or in the form of a comprehensive trade facilitation deal.
Conduct regular policy dialogues between relevant officials concerned with important sectors of the economy that would benefit from cooperation such as finance, transport, energy, environment, fisheries and so on.
Promote and coordinate regional cooperation schemes at all levels
Any examination of work done on the region shows that numerous schemes, programmes and initiatives, whether governmental or non-governmental, not-for profit, EU-led or with a thematic focus have been actively promoting regional cooperation for years. However, the need to make this work more visible and coordinated is necessary if the potential of the Black Sea, as a region, is to be fully unleashed.
There is also a need to move beyond the top-down approach promoted by organisations such as BSEC and others, to assure that civil society plays a role in the development of the region. If we are to assume that civil society refers to uncoerced collective action around shared interests, purposes and values, there is much to be gained from the greater involvement of the business sector at national and regional levels, NGOs, women’s groups and youth in Black Sea regional activities.
Identifying issues which could be better addressed regionally rather than nationally is a priority. Doing this would serve as a good tool for coordination between institutions and programmes with a regional cooperation dimension. Working on this could also help draw in all relevant actors in the fields of their concern. The selection of key subjects which need addressing would also assist donors, governments and investors in deciding on their funding priorities. Lessons should be drawn from the experiences of other areas which have faced or are dealing with similar issues, such as the Baltic, the Balkans, the Danube region and so on.
Promote intercultural dialogue
A clear encouragement and sponsorship of intercultural dialogue among the peoples of the Black Sea would support regional cooperation. A useful example that could serve as an inspiration and model is the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures which is based in Alexandria in Egypt and operates within the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. Another reference is the Alliance of Civilizations which was established in 2005, at the initiative of the Governments of Spain and Turkey, under the auspices of the United Nations. Similar models should be encouraged at the sub-regional level. Intercultural dialogue should be promoted hand in hand with interfaith dialogue, aimed at bringing together the religious leaders of the region’s confessions. Cooperation between universities should be enhanced as should student exchange programmes in order to create linkages and networks between young people of the Black Sea. A joint Black Sea Studies graduate programme needs to be established between the region’s universities in order to create academic linkages for the future. In terms of the media there are few foreign correspondents from Black Sea countries reporting on events in one another’s countries. This means that what news there is often comes from external sources not well attuned to the interests of their readers or viewers. Funds should be found to address this problem.
Promote the targeted training of professional groups
There is a need for the targeted training of public servants, diplomats, young leaders, parliamentarians and business leaders throughout the region. This should aim to improve the number of well trained individuals at the service of their countries. However, above and beyond that, training people together is a way to promote the cooperation of local public officials and others on issues of common concerns, such as the environment, which contribute to regional development. The creation of a Black Sea Training Academy for example, would help streamline such a process.
Promote good governance, civil society and social dialogue
The involvement of civil society in policy making is linked to good governance and solid institution building, which all countries in the region have signed up to through their membership in the Council of Europe. Programmes should be implemented such that a focus on civil society is enhanced. Efforts should be made to encourage cooperation between civil society organisations in Black Sea countries including the conflict regions. More funds should be devoted to programmes and projects encouraging active and professional involvement of civil society in policy making throughout the region. Countries should take practical steps in developing e-government services both on national and regional levels. Business organisations such as chambers of commerce and employers’ organisations and trade unions should also be encouraged to talk to one another in order to find and propose regional solutions for regional problems. One idea could be the creation of a cooperation council for business organisations and chambers of commerce under the aegis of the renewed BSEC enhancing the scope of the already existing BSEC Business Council.
Dimitrios Triantaphyllou
Athens, 8 July 2010
Previous Editorials by Dimitrios Triantaphyllou
A Return to Realpolitik? A Snapshot
The Path toward Collective Action
Focusing on the East
The Nabucco Pipeline and Energy Dilemmas
The European Union and its Eastern Neighbourhood: Challenges and Prospects
Engaging the Black Sea Region: The Time for Action Is Now
Making Sense of the EU Approach towards its Eastern Neighbourhood
Promoting Synergies Across Regions
Making the Black Sea Synergies Work
The ICBSS Looking Ahead
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