On the 8th of June 2023, the event “Challenges and resilience capacity of the Bulgarian ports in a changing black sea region” took place at the Nikola Y. Vaptsarov Naval Academy (NVNA), in Varna. The event was equally part of the European Maritime Day in My Country 2023 initiative and the Common Maritime Agenda (CMA) in My Country series of events to promote blue economy at the national level.
It gathered more than 60 representatives of state institutions, ports, municipal administrations, businesses, NGOs, and the scientific community, who identified several challenges for the Bulgarian ports.
Some of the topics discussed were: the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the need to improve the regulatory framework to properly define complex relations between institutions in the management of ports, the challenges related to the Black Sea straits (Bosphorus tolls, shipbuilding and ship repair financial burdens), the lack of a developed system of intermodal terminals, or the decarbonization of maritime transports and ports. Speakers also stated the need for new transport routes to assure connectivity between the Western Balkans, Central Europe, the Black Sea region and Asia, and the need for a clear and consistent policy for the development of the state and municipal intermodal infrastructure.
The event was opened by Ms Charlina Vicheva, Director General of the Directorate General of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission. "Ports can become real innovation hubs", she stated. According to the Commission, maritime transport and ports will play a key role in achieving carbon neutrality of the EU blue economy by 2050. "I especially appreciate the fact that with today's event in Varna, this important dialogue on innovation and de-carbonisation is developing at the national and regional level as well , within the framework of the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea" she added.
As part of the event, participants were also introduced to numerous financial opportunities for support to projects under the INTERREG NEXT Black Sea Programme and Horizon Europe in the field of blue economy and green and sustainable transition, including those related to ports.
The event was organized in the context of the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea (CMA) by the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Bulgaria – CMA National Coordinator, and the Marine Cluster Bulgaria (MCB) - National Hub of the Black Sea Assistance Mechanism (BSAM), with the support of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), the Bulgarian Maritime Chamber and the NVNA.