Enhancing Connectivity in the wider Black Sea region: Presentation of the Priorities of the Hellenic Chairmanship-in-Office at the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
8 July 2026
On Tuesday 7 July 2026, the International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS) organised successfully an event for the Presentation of the Priorities of the Hellenic Chairmanship-in-Office at the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), with title “Enhancing Connectivity in the wider Black Sea region”. The event was hosted at the “Giannos Kranidiotis” Amphitheatre at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, in Athens, Greece.
On the occasion of the launch of the Hellenic BSEC Chairmanship-in-Office, the event presented the priorities and offered an overview of the programme of the Hellenic BSEC Chairmanship for the period 1 July – 31 December 2026.
On behalf of the Hellenic Chairmanship, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, H.E. Mr. Theoharis Theoharis, delivered the keynote speech, outlining the priorities and objectives of the Hellenic Republic for the next six months. From BSEC Organization, BSEC PERMIS Secretary General, H.E. Amb. Lazăr Comănescu, expressed appreciation and gratitude to Greece’s continuous commitment and contribution to BSEC’s goals and principles.
On behalf of the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dimitris Skalkos, Secretary General for International Economic Affairs, outlined the diverse, project-oriented and impact-driven programme of the Hellenic BSEC Chairmanship, focusing on two key thematic priorities: a) enhancing connectivity in transport, energy, digital infrastructure and logistics, and b) promoting people-to-people contacts, prioritising cultural exchanges, educational cooperation and tourism.
Main action areas of the Hellenic BSEC Chairmanship:
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- Promoting the implementation of the “BSEC Economic Agenda”.
- Promoting the efficiency and effectiveness of BSEC.
- Promoting the project-oriented character of BSEC.
- Enhancing connectivity.
- Promoting people-to-people contacts.
- Promoting the interaction of BSEC with partners and third parties.
- Promoting the effective resolution of current issues on the BSEC Agenda.
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During the second part of the event, representatives from the BSEC related bodies were invited to introduce their institutions and outline their anticipated contributions under the Hellenic BSEC Chairmanship. On behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly of BSEC (PABSEC), Ms. Sofia Voultepsi, Vice-President and Head of the PABSEC Hellenic Delegation; from the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB), Mr. Asterios Tsoukalas, Secretary General; on behalf of the International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS), Mr. Georgios Mitrakos, Director General.
In the third part of the event, Mr. Angelis Panopoulos, Director of the Private office of the Secretary General of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Hellenic Ministry of the Environment and Energy and Ms. Persefoni Ioannidou, Director General for Strategic Transport Planning and Road Safety of the Hellenic Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation, presented regional priorities in the sectors of energy and transportation, respectively, and outlined the Ministries’ anticipated action plans in alignment with the priorities of the 2026 Hellenic BSEC Chairmanship.
The event was attended by more than 100 stakeholders from ministries, national agencies, academic institutions, policy and business representatives from Greece and representatives from the embassies of the BSEC Member States in Athens.
Read the full Press-release HERE
More information about the event HERE
