6th International Black Sea Symposium 2013

The International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS) is hosting the 6th International Black Sea Symposium on “Empowering Civil Society in the Black Sea region: a tool for Innovative Social Change” at Divani Palace Acropolis Hotel, in Athens, from 4 to 6 July 2013.

In its sixth year, the Symposium builds on the success and positive impact of its previous five editions to bring together the next generation of stakeholders with an interest in the Black Sea area, introducing a new dimension, civil society, as a key element to economic growth, sustainable development and social change.

Opening the Symposium, ICBSS Director General, Dr. Zefi Dimadama, addressed the welcome speech and thanked Mr. Henri Malosse, President of the European Economic and Social Committee for his presence at the event. Keynote speaker and special guest of the ICBSS in Athens, Mr. Henri Malosse, highlighting the motto of his Presidency in the EESC, “a wind of change”, stressed the necessity to “create better conditions for the next generation; a promising future that will come from the bottom, from the people, civil society and networks”. As he pointed out, youth unemployment constitutes a key priority to EESC. Concluding his speech, Mr. Malosse underlined the importance of integration within the EU, as well as, of further strengthening EU relations with its neighbours as means to cooperation and sustainable development.

Twenty young professionals including policy-makers, academics, journalists, diplomats, Members of Parliament, entrepreneurs, civil society leaders and researchers primarily from the countries of the wider Black Sea area, EU member states and Central Asia are attending three days of interactive sessions.

The first day of the 6^th IBSS was successfully concluded with the participation of renowned speakers who addressed the challenges and opportunities of social innovation as a tool for development, especially within the framework of NGO regional networks in the wider Black Sea area.

The 6^th IBSS continues on its second day, addressing the issues of human capital, as core element to achieving development, and of Corporate Social Responsibility as a tool to empowering civil society.

About the project: the International Black Sea Symposium project was launched in 2008 and aims to contribute to confidence building and networking across the Black Sea region and beyond, by providing a forum for study and networking in a multicultural and interdisciplinary environment.