Author: Yasar Yakis

For a long time the situation in the Black Sea was a reminder of the Cold War in the region as it was on the border between the two Blocs. Nevertheless, following the end of the Cold War there has been a “sea change” in the Black Sea region by providing an opportunity for enhanced cooperation. At the same time, the peace and stability of the Black Sea region has become – for a number of reasons – a matter of concern with impact beyond the region. What the Georgian crisis has clearly shown is that the main actors capable of achieving and maintaining peace and stability in the region are basically the regional stakeholders. The Georgian crisis has sharpened the focus on the many challenges and risks which abound in the region.

The edition is available here.

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Authors: Barbara Wick and Sergiu Porcescu

The report evaluates the importance of S&T in the ENPI for EECA countries through the assessment of existing instruments and mechanisms of the ENP as well as the implementation of its programmes and national agendas. Looking at the relevance of ENP/ENPI goals for the S&T landscape in the region, the report concludes that there is room for closer cooperation in this area between the EU and EECA countries. The instruments available under this policy framework could be used to strengthen national research infrastructure and to foster EECA participation in the EU Programmes open for the region (7th Framework Programme, Competitiveness and Innovation Programme, TEMPUS etc). Although the current budgetary framework is coming to an end, some of the recommendations can be useful for further EU policies targeting the EECA region.

The edition is available here.

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Author: Stella Ladi

Preface by: Dimitrios Triantaphyllou

The capacity of a state to deliver public goods and services in an effective and reliable way constitutes one of the key variables for distinguishing between “successful” and “unsuccessful” societies. The countries of the wider Black Sea area, through their cooperation in the context of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organisation (BSEC), are struggling to build public institutions needed to achieve “successful” societies. Following the paradigms of international organisations such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the European Union, the BSEC has undertaken action to address issues of good governance and institutional renewal that are of paramount importance in the region by acting – as the author of this Xenophon Paper suggests – as an agent for “soft” policy transfer of good governance practices.

In this contribution, Stella Ladi elaborates on the concept of good governance, highlighting the fact that governance issues differ from place to place and therefore no one-size-fits-all solution exists. Nevertheless, there are clear priority areas – such as the reform of the civil service, the improvement of policymaking procedures, the endorsement of transparency and decentralisation – where the BSEC member states can and have already started to foster good governance.

The edition is available here.

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Author: Tedo Japaridze

In light of the recent emergence of the “Black Sea Synergy” and the “Eastern Partnership”, and following the developments in the wider Black Sea area, the European Union and the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) need to explore in a more efficient and critical manner the perspectives of their interaction in the foreseeable future. The purpose of this Policy Brief is to consider certain built-in structural and institutional elements in the relations of these two institutions, and to identify balances, some loopholes as well as some risks in their interaction, reflecting on some regional perceptions and misperceptions which nourish or even re-shape the existing reality in the region and in the EU.

The edition is available here.

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Authors: Dr. Zefi Dimadama, Dr. Vladimir Korolev, Dr. Anna Pikalova, Dr. Iliana Proskuryakova, Prof. Panagiotis Liargovas, Dr. Ioannis Bakouros, Dr. Elpida Samara, Dr. Sotirios Zygiaris, Dr. Margarita Angelidou

 

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Author: Nadia Alexandrova-Arbatova

Preface by: Dimitrios Triantaphyllou

The perspective of Russia, a key regional stakeholder, regarding developments in the wider Black Sea area is one that is sadly missing in the current English language bibliography. It is in this context that the International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS) has reached out to Nadia Arbatova, one of Russia’s best analytical minds, to contribute with this Xenophon Paper on Regional Cooperation in the Black Sea Area in the Context of EU-Russia Relations.

Nadia Arbatova while sharing her expertise on Russia’s domestic and international affairs attempts to present the perspectives of the Russian political elite, their expectations in engaging with the European Union (EU) and their policy formulations regarding both the Black Sea region in general and other regional actors. In other words, this Xenophon Paper informs the policymakers regarding the expectations and aims of a power that needs to be reckoned with while formulating policies regarding the region.

The edition is available here.

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Black Sea Symposium: a chance for extroversion of the Black Sea area as an influential crossroad between east and West, by Dr. Zefi Dimadama

The post Black Sea Monitor 23 – 2nd demo appeared first on ICBSS - International Centre for Black Sea Studies.

Abstract

The article provides an analysis of causes behind worsened environment in the Black Sea. The crisis was brought about by pollutants getting into the Sea with river flows, from surrounding territories, also by runoff losses, disturbance of marine water balance and drastic reduction of water exchange through the Bosporus.

* Prof. Ivan Aidarov and Prof. Aleksey Zavalin are experts on agriculture, hydraulic engineering and land reclamation at the Russian Academy of Sciences. 

The edition is available here.

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Author: Ian O. Lesser

Preface by: Dimitrios Triantaphyllou

The wider Black Sea area is rapidly becoming a focal point of interest for a number of extra-regional actors that can also be considered, in view of their active involvement, to be stakeholders. As Ian Lesser, the author of this new Xenophon Paper suggests, the Black Sea is strategically signifi cant because it is an important part of the European security environment, it is a political and logistical hub for power projection to crisis-prone areas beyond the Black Sea basin and it is important in its own right because of its impressive development potential but also because it harbors many fl ashpoints for regional conflict.

A fundamental question that emerges from reading this Paper is whether there is a need for developing Black Sea identity as a distinct security space or whether the Black Sea should be treated ‘as part of a larger geographical continuum’. The logical conclusion is that a thorough consideration of both aforementioned approaches is necessary and inevitable.

The edition is available here.

The post Xenophon Paper No.4 appeared first on ICBSS - International Centre for Black Sea Studies.

Monitoring and Policy Research This task includes monitoring political and economic developments in the Black Sea region including the relevant EU policies and initiatives; reporting on current regional cooperation structures; preparing policy proposals. 

In this framework, the ICBSS has published the following policy briefs: 

- Japaridze, Tedo, Panagiota Manoli, Dimitrios Triantaphyllou and Yannis Tsantoulis. “The EU’s Ambivalent Relationship with BSEC: Reflecting on the Past, Mapping out the Future.” ICBSS Policy Brief, no. 20. Athens: ICBSS, January 2010. 
- Gavras, Panayotis and Ghinea Arminio Iorga. “The Impact of the Current Economic and Financial Crisis on the Black Sea Region.” ICBSS Policy Brief, no. 18. Athens: ICBSS, October 2009. 
- Stribis, Ioannis. “Pooling Forces in Protecting the Black Sea Marine Environment: Actors and Actions.” ICBSS Policy Brief, no. 17. Athens: ICBSS, October 2009. 
- Stribis, Ioannis. “Black Sea Sectoral Partnerships: A Tentative Model.” ICBSS Policy Brief, no. 14. Athens: ICBSS, April 2009. 
- Tsantoulis, Yannis. “Black Sea Synergy and Eastern Partnership: Different Centres of Gravity, Complementarity or Confusing Signals?” ICBSS Policy Brief, no. 12. Athens: ICBSS, February 2009. 
- Japaridze, Tedo. “A Memo on How to Make the EU-BSEC Relations Relevant and Productive.” ICBSS Policy Brief, no. 11. Athens: ICBSS, February 2009. 
- Manoli, Panagiota and Stelios Stavridis. “An Emerging Euro–Black Sea Parliamentary Dimension: Contributing to the Black Sea Synergy.” ICBSS Policy Brief, no. 9. Athens: ICBSS, December 2008. 

Media Monitoring 

Media monitoring is carried out through the systematic review of foreign press and policy publications. An output of this activity is the Black Sea News Update (BSNU). 

The BSNU is a fortnightly brief of political and economic developments covering the Black Sea region. 

The BSNU pdf files are available for download.


Visa Policy Monitoring 

Monitoring developments in the European context regarding visa issuing for citizens of the Black Sea states. 

Visa Brief No. 4 - January 2010 
Visa Brief No. 3 - September 2009 
Visa Brief No. 2 - June 2009 
Visa Brief No. 1 - March 2009 

Networking Networking will be ongoing and includes promoting the organisation of the International Black Sea Symposium. 

The Symposium is targeted at young experts and professionals from the Black Sea region. 

Duration: 12 November 2008 – 11 November 2010 (24 months) 

Funding Source: Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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