On 7 July 2026, representatives from Black Sea countries, EU institutions, regional organisations, international financial institutions, National Hubs and key stakeholders gathered in Brussels for the second Steering Group Meeting of the CMA for the Black Sea under Bulgaria coordination. Held back-to-back with the Macro-Regional and Sea Basin Strategies Days, the meeting demonstrated a clear message: the Black Sea region is steadily transforming EU and national policy commitments into concrete cooperation and stakeholder engagement, projects and investments, around a shared vision for a more sustainable, resilient and connected Black Sea.
Stronger alignment with emerging EU priorities
A central theme of the meeting was the increasing alignment between CMA and Black Sea Assistance Mechanism (BSAM) activities and major new European initiatives, including the EU Ocean Pact, the creation of the EU Ocean Dashboard and OceanEye, all aimed at enhancing Europe's role as a global provider of ocean information. Participants also discussed the recently adopted EU Strategy for Coastal Communities, which for the first time provides a dedicated framework to help coastal areas become more resilient, economically vibrant and socially inclusive.
The Black Sea Strategic Approach with promising results
Updates from the European External Action Service (EEAS) and DG ENEST highlighted encouraging progress in implementing the EU Strategic Approach to the Black Sea Region. Key developments included advances on the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub and ongoing investments in transport, energy and digital connectivity through the Connectivity Agenda and the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, further strengthening regional cooperation and reinforcing the CMA's contribution to the EU's broader Black Sea objectives.
Building bridges between the Danube and the Black Sea
Under Bulgaria's coordination, strengthening synergies between the CMA and the EU Strategy for the Danube Region has become a key priority. Discussions highlighted the growing importance of the Danube-Black Sea corridor as a strategic gateway for connectivity, trade and regional development, while exploring closer cooperation on transport, ports, multimodal logistics and digital traffic management. Participants agreed that stronger links between the two frameworks can support not only mobility and competitiveness, but also broader cooperation in the blue economy, tourism, environmental protection and innovation.
Innovation, research and new opportunities for the blue economy
The meeting showcased the growing mobilisation of stakeholders, projects and investments supporting the Black Sea blue economy. National Coordinators, regional organisations and CMA observers highlighted ongoing cooperation in areas such as environmental monitoring, aquaculture, connectivity and resilience. Participants also learned about new opportunities emerging through the Eco-Innovation Challenge, the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership's Black Sea Regional Portfolio and the BlueDial project, all contributing to stronger innovation, knowledge-sharing and cooperation across the region.
From strategy to action
The meeting also showcased concrete progress in CMA implementation. The renewed Sustainable Aquaculture Technical Group entered a new phase focused on project development and funding opportunities, while preparations for the Black Sea CMA Annual Stakeholder Conference, to be held on 30 September 2026 in Burgas, Bulgaria, are well underway. The second Steering Group Meeting confirmed that cooperation in the Black Sea region is entering a new stage of maturity. New EU policies are creating opportunities, regional partnerships are becoming stronger, and stakeholders are increasingly working together to transform strategic ambitions into concrete actions. As cooperation deepens and links with EU policies continue to strengthen, the Black Sea region is building momentum towards a future defined by stronger partnerships, greater resilience and a more sustainable blue economy.