In brief
On 30 October 2026, a Black Sea 2030 forum in Burgas brought together Romanian, Bulgarian and European officials to discuss marine monitoring, risk assessment and security cooperation. Leaders highlighted satellite technology, joint flood‑drought risk management and a new security hub as key solutions, while business voices warned that ongoing conflicts are stalling investment and demanded EU financial support. The European Commission reiterated its €110 million commitment to the Mission Restore our Ocean and announced a new Horizon Europe call, the ZEWT Partnership, to curb the ecological footprint of waterborne transport.
On 30 October 2026 in Burgas, Bulgaria, a Black Sea 2030 forum convened Romanian, Bulgarian and European officials to address escalating security, environmental and economic pressures in the region. The meeting, titled "Security: The Black Sea in the New Security Architecture," highlighted the urgent need for intensified marine monitoring, satellite‑based risk assessment and joint governance mechanisms to protect the Black Sea’s fragile ecosystems and the livelihoods that depend on them.
George Constantin, Deputy General Director at Romania's Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests, opened the dialogue by stressing that Romania and Bulgaria must collaborate on monitoring the Black Sea and the Danube River. He advocated for the use of existing satellite and infrastructure systems to track changes, assess flood and drought risks, and safeguard populations along the coast.
Business leaders echoed this call for collaborative action. Savvas Karafilidis, President and Founder of the Bulgarian‑Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, warned that regional military tensions are hampering private investment and eroding the economic prospects of Black Sea communities. He urged the European Union to elevate funding for businesses operating in the transport, logistics and energy sectors that are most exposed to insecurity.
Academic voices reinforced the need for shared scientific capacity. Professor Milen Baltov, Rector of Burgas Free University and Chairman of the Marine Scientific Society, announced plans to establish a security hub at the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna, with complementary activities in Burgas. The initiative, a product of joint work within the Marine Scientific Society, aims to strengthen marine research cooperation across universities and research bodies in the region.
James Morrison, Director of the Healthy Planet Directorate in the European Commission's DG Research and Innovation, addressed the forum via video link. He reaffirmed the Commission’s €110 million investment in restoring marine ecosystems in the Black Sea and underscored the importance of continued financial support for initiatives under the EU Mission "Restore our Ocean and Waters" through 2030. In the coming months, the Commission announced that it would unveil a new strategy emphasizing an integrated approach to marine resource management.
The forum also reflected broader regional security concerns. Greek maritime representatives, responding to a recent drone‑attacked sink of a Greek ship in the Black Sea, called for a global maritime truce. The incident underscored the need for safe navigation and reinforced the call for coordinated security measures among Black Sea states.
In line with yet another EU‑led initiative, a Horizon Europe open call titled “ZEWT Partnership – Innovative Solutions for mitigating the environmental impact of waterborne transport in marine and aquatic ecosystems” was launched. The partnership seeks to develop technologies and best practices that reduce the ecological footprint of vessels operating in the Black Sea and surrounding waters, offering a complementary pathway to the monitoring and security agenda discussed in Burgas.
Collectively, the forum participants charted an agenda that blends high‑tech surveillance, joint governance, academia‑industry collaboration, EU financial mechanisms, and a call for a regional security hub. By leveraging satellite data, shared research platforms and coordinated risk‑management protocols, the Balkan states are aiming to build resilience against both security threats and environmental challenges while preserving the economic vitality of their Black Sea coastlines.
