Following the past two consecutive years of success of the institution of the Black Sea Project Awards, the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea, with support from the Black Sea Assistance Mechanism, has launched a new edition. These awards are meant to recognise innovation, achievements, and contributions in the Black Sea sea-basin.
Outstanding projects impact on the Black Sea Region
The Black Sea Project Awards are designed to recognise the positive impact of projects that support the three goals of the Common Maritime Agenda (CMA) for the Black Sea. The Awards are open to initiatives from across the Black Sea region, including Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Türkiye, and Ukraine. The Awards seek to identify exceptional projects that offer innovative, practical, and efficient solutions, all while advancing the CMA's main objectives and priorities for a sustainable blue economy in the Black Sea.
Categories of Excellence
The awards are divided into three categories, each reflecting the main CMA's goals:
Healthy Marine and Coastal Ecosystems: This category focuses on environmental protection, sustainability in resource exploitation, combating marine pollution and litter, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, innovative marine research infrastructure, and environmental monitoring.
A Competitive, Innovative, and Sustainable Blue Economy for the Black Sea: Here, the emphasis is on innovative business models, research and innovation, sustainable growth, job creation, transport, digital connectivity, and fostering blue skills and maritime careers.
Fostering Investment in the Black Sea Blue Economy: This category highlights access to financial resources, promoting sustainable investment in the Blue Economy, and supporting maritime entrepreneurship and clusters.
Applicants are encouraged to choose a primary award category that best aligns with their project's scope and a secondary category if their project has an indirect impact on other areas.
Eligibility and Evaluation
Projects competing for these esteemed awards must meet the following criteria:
- Projects must be implemented within the geographical area covered by the Black Sea Common Maritime Agenda:
- Bulgaria
- Georgia
- Republic of Moldova
- Romania
- Türkiye
- Ukraine
- Projects should have been initiated and/or completed within the 36 months leading up to the call's announcement.
Applications can be submitted by individuals or organisations that are project leaders or partners within the project consortium, including professionals, entrepreneurs, research institutions, maritime clusters, associations, and NGOs located in the Black Sea region (see countries mentioned above).
Applications will be evaluated by a jury, comprising of independent experts from the Black Sea Assistance Mechanism and the European Commission (DG MARE and CINEA), based on several criteria, including project relevance to the selected award categories, innovation level, impact (social, environmental, economic), transnational involvement to the project, and potential for replicability and transferability.
Recognising Excellence in the Black Sea
Three outstanding projects, one from each award category, will be selected by the jury of the Black Sea Project Awards. These Awards celebrate exceptional contributions to the maritime success of the Black Sea region.
Winning projects will benefit from increased visibility through the CMA´s digital channels, media outreach, and a dedicated CMA Newsletter.
Additionally, a "winner of winners" will be chosen during a dynamic pitching competition held at the award ceremony. This offers an additional opportunity for recognition. The selected projects will receive a special award and the exclusive Black Sea Project Award Seal, which can be used in their communication and promotional materials.
The winners will be announced at the Black Sea Project Award ceremony, taking place during the CMA Stakeholder Conference on 28 October 2025, in Constanța, Romania. This event sets out to be a major visibility opportunity, where innovation, sustainability, and excellence in the Black Sea sustainable blue economy will take centre stage.
How to Apply
Interested individuals and organisations can submit their applications, in English, through the online application form, available from 19th June until 15th September via: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/Black_Sea_Project_Awards2025
Any questions about the application process, award criteria, or procedures, please contact via email at communications@black-sea-maritime-agenda.ec.europa.eu.
Deadlines for the application
19 June 2025: Launch of the award online application form
15 September 2025: Closing award application
1st October 2025: Announcement of award winner
- 28 October 2025: Black Sea Project Award ceremony at the Annual Stakeholder Conference in Constanța, Romania, where winners will have the opportunity to present their projects.
Curious about the previous edition of the Black Sea Project Awards?
You can find the videos on the CMA YouTube Channel, and explore the complete report of the event, where the following outstanding initiatives were recognised:
- Recycllux and the Ballast Water Treatment Service received the award in the Healthy Marine and Coastal Ecosystems category.
- DOORS Black Sea project and Black Sea CONNECT received the award in the Competitive, innovative, and sustainable blue economy category.
- The Black Sea Accelerator (by DOORS Black Sea and BRIDGE Black Sea) received an honourable mention for Fostering Investment in the Black Sea blue economy category.
- Black Sea CONNECT was also voted as the Winner of Winners by the conference audience.
Stay tuned for more updates and join us in celebrating maritime excellence in the Black Sea!