On Wednesday 28 May, the European Commission presented a new strategy aimed at increasing cooperation with third countries in the Black Sea region (Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan), a region facing “growing geopolitical pressure”, especially since Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine.
Whereas the previous ‘Black Sea Synergy’ initiative, dating back to April 2007 (see EUROPE 9404/1), included Russia as a partner, this strategy is designed not only to develop cooperation and exchanges between the EU and the countries concerned, but also to minimise the threats posed by Russia to the security of the region. It does not provide for any new funding.
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, underlined the “great strategic importance” of the Black Sea for the EU27, as a bridge to Central Asia and where several coastal states are candidates for EU membership (Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Turkey). But “the regional potential is marred by Russia’s war”, she said, citing “recurring air space violations, ports and shipping lanes”, in particular Ukrainian grain export routes.
To strengthen maritime security, the European Commission and the European External Action Service are proposing to set up a Black Sea Maritime Security Hub. In cooperation with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), this centre, whose location and financial resources have yet to be determined, will be tasked with improving knowledge of the maritime situation in the Black Sea through real-time monitoring of traffic and maritime infrastructures (offshore installations, submarine cables, energy production, etc.) and alerting to potential threats and malicious activities.
According to Ms Kallas, this ‘hub’ could also monitor compliance with a possible ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, focusing its attention on the issue of “mine clearance”. The High Representative also raised the issue of military mobility, suggesting that infrastructure be upgraded to accommodate and facilitate the movement of heavy equipment.
By the end of the summer, the Commission and the EEAS are expected to have mapped out the needs and be in a position to present options for turning the strategy into reality.
In addition, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, has called for an agenda to be drawn up for the development of connections using the Black Sea to link Europe to Central Asia. “We see a world where strategic dependencies are being weaponised. We need to diversify energy, transport and digital links”, she said.
For example, the Commission and the EEAS see the Black Sea as a region with great potential for the development of renewable energies and advocate increased cooperation on access to critical raw materials, in particular by implementing the commitments made at the EU/Central Asia Summit (see EUROPE 13615/1). This will “help us diversify away from Russia” and “help us de-risk our energy systems” as well as open up new investment opportunities for clean technologies, said Ms Kos.
Ms Kos also stressed the importance of helping the countries of the region to take action to preserve the environmental wealth of the Black Sea and to anticipate the impact of climate change, in particular through greater support for civil society organisations. In particular, the coastal countries and Armenia have committed to restoring one third of degraded ecosystems by 2030.
The EU is committed, for example, to facilitating access for countries in the region to the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS), the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) and the European Drought Observatory, services operated by the Copernicus space programme.
To see the Commission and EEAS Black Sea Strategy: https://aeur.eu/f/h3r (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)