BSEC PERMIS has assumed the implementation of the project entitled "Blueing the Black Sea" (BBSEA), which is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and promoted by the World Bank. The project's objecrlive is to strengthen economic, technical and communication tools in order to promote regional collaboration and private sector engagement for pollution prevention in the Black Sea. BSEC PERMIS is already concluding the initial preparatory phase, while the project's actual implementation will start in October 2021 and will last for four years. "BBSEA" focuses initially to the four GEF-eligible countries, i.e., Georgia, Moldova, Turkey and Ukraine, yet the ambition is to progressively include all littoral Black Sea countries, through additional financing.
Given the above and upon the initiative of PERMIS, an online panel discussion will take place on Tuesday 3 June, at 15.00 hours Istanbul time (+3GMT), in order to better publicize and present the BBSEA project, but also to exchange views on the overalladvancement of Blue Economy in the Black Sea region, on the implementation of the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea (CMA) and on the necessity for more regional infrastructure investments in sectors envisaged by the various CMA goals, like marine pollution, energy, tourism and culture.
The panel discussion, organized by the experienced "Delphi Economic Forum", will be moderated by Mr. Spyros KOUVELIS, Director, EPLO Institute for Sustainable Development former Minister of State for Foreign Economic, Cultural, and Environmental Affairs / former MP of the Hellenic Republic, while distinguished personalities will engage in an interesting exchange of views which are expected to further support the promotion of Blue Economy in the wider Black Sea region. Among them are Mrs. Irina BOKOVA, Director General of UNESCO (2009-2017) and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria (1996-1997), Mr. Teodor MELESCANU, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania (20L7-2019), Mrs. Anna DIAMANTOPOULOU, President of DIKTIO -Network for Reform in Greece and Europe, former European Commissioner, forrner Minister and Mr. Steven SCHONBERGER, Regional Director, Sustainable Development Department for Europe and Central Asia, World Bank.
