Redefining Cooperation in the Black Sea Region

A Conference on Security, International Order and Regional Challenges in Berlin

22.11.2010

Second Conference, Berlin, Germany, 11-13 November 2010

PDF-Downloads: Program, List of Participants

After a successful kickoff-conference in Varna in April of this year, the Black Sea Young Reformers (BSYR) fellows met in Berlin to continue their discussion on regional and international challenges for the Black Sea Region and to strengthen their cooperation by bringing theory to practice.

The first day of the conference, entitled “Redefining Cooperation in the Black Sea Region: A Conference on Security, International Order and Regional Challenges,” was designed as a roundtable and aimed not only to provide the high-level audience with new insights on today’s Black Sea Region but also to bring the fellows together with leading figures from the European Commission and the German Parliament, as well as experts from think tanks and political representatives. Therefore, the roundtable presented a unique opportunity for the BSYR fellows to communicate with high ranking decision makers and exchange ideas with them about how to meet the challenges in the Black Sea Region.

Dr. Ingrid Hamm, Member of the Board of the Robert Bosch Stiftung, opened with some welcoming remarks, stating that the Black Sea Young Reformers fellowship, as a joint program initiative, not only brought together 4 partners and 19 fellows from 9 different countries, but also produced valuable and interesting results. Dr. Hamm pointed out that the Black Sea Region remains far away from the day-to-day consciousness of most Germans - citizens and politicians alike.

The fact is, most people generally underestimate the importance of this region. Since the first promising forays were made by former German Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank Walter Steinmeier when he attended a summit of the Foreign Ministers of the EU and the Black Sea countries held in Kyiv, February 2008, the focus has been on thinking in terms of regional stability. A strategic framework would stabilize and transform the region of the Caucasus, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea by utilizing the European Neighborhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership as a foundation/basis upon which to build. Furthermore, Russia and Turkey should be included in this future strategy, while Romania and Bulgaria will be able to serve as a bridge between the Black Sea countries and the EU.

The Black Sea Young Reformers Fellowship is, in Dr. Hamm’s mind, primarily for advocating awareness about the region by creating a network of fellows. This network will campaign for the interests of the Black Sea Region, not only during the conference in Berlin, but also in Brussels and other capitals around the EU. In addition, the Black Sea Young Reformers want to do more than just promote interests: They want to shift the perspective and focus to regional success stories of campaigns against corruption, reform and improved performances of regional and municipal administration, and cooperation on environmental issues, to name but a few.

Dr. Hamm showed in her welcoming speech that by being a partner in the forward-looking Black Sea Young Reformers Fellowship, the Robert Bosch Stiftung is realizing their favorite approach: Investing in people.

In his adjoining speech, Craig Kennedy, President of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, gave strong support to the comments by Dr. Hamm. He emphasized the critical geo-strategic position of the region and at the same time acknowledged its lack of a common identity. This is where the Black Sea Young Reformers Fellowship can position itself as a network of tomorrow’s young decision makers.

The Commission on the Black Sea, which was initiated by the German Marshall Fund of the United States in cooperation with additional partners, has recently published a list of recommendations that identifies the contemporary challenges and problems facing in the Black Sea Region. Now it is the responsibility of the Black Sea Young Reformers to take further steps and to tackle these urgent tasks by improving communication within and between the countries of the Black Sea.

The first Panel, moderated by Almut Möller, head of the program for the Alfred von Oppenheim Center for European Policy Studies at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), addressed the topic of security in the Black Sea Region. Thierry Bechet, Adviser of the Directorate General for External Relations at the European Commission, pointed out the high importance of the Black Sea region for the European Union due to its close proximity and its participation in the EU’s Neighborhood Policy. Recognizing the signs of the times, the European Commission has not only strengthened its endeavors in the region but also committed to improving its partnership strategy with the Black Sea states. Since the region is highly diverse, it is a great challenge for the European Union to overcome the individual differences and to develop a comprehensive approach. James Nixey, Manager and Research Fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House in London, called attention to the fact that there is no real comprehensive system of security in the Black Sea Region. He pointed out recent developments in the Black Sea countries and expressed his concern about the future progress of democracy and economic development in the Black Sea region.

Further, Turkey and Russia have gained influence on matters of security and economy in their neighborhood, which is a main reason for why the regions is neglected by Europe as well as by the United States. Russia is the problem as regards security, but at the same time Russia is also the solution for creating a positive trend in the Black Sea region.

Ruprecht Polenz, Executive Director of the Foreign Committee of the German Bundestag, addressed the topic with an appeal to develop binding expectations that would commit the Black Sea countries mandatory obligations and that could also enable future cooperation in a policy space where every country can be a winner.

The second and third Panel concentrated on Europe and the Black Sea Region and Regional Development in the Black Sea Area. The moderators, Johanna Deimel, Deputy Director of the Southeast Europe Association, and Katrin Böttger, Deputy Director of the Institut für Europäische Politik, described the importance of the Black Sea Region in terms of its strategic orientation towards the European Union on both hard security issues as well as soft security topics, such as energy security. The progress is limited: frozen conflicts and the lack of cross border cooperation have not been helpful for promoting democratic values, political stability and energy supply security.

The panels included the statements of Michael Link, Member of the German Bundestag, who pointed out that the European Union has to send a positive message to Ukraine and Moldova, not only in terms of membership but also on visa liberalization, which is necessary to show the EU’s openness. Kai Olaf Lang, Senior Associate at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), referred to the long tradition of sub-regional cooperation in the Baltic area, while Alina Mungiu-Pippidi, Ph.D., Professor of Democracy Studies at the Hertie School of Governance, enumerated the challenges for reformers in the Black Sea Region.

Stefan Meister from the Center for Central and Eastern Europe of the Robert Bosch Stiftung at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP highlighted the role of the South Caucasus as a southern energy corridor for the EU. Ognyan Minchev, Director of the Sofia based Institute for Regional and International Studies, challenged the audience by asking what kind of regional cooperation is needed in the Black Sea Region, one based on the EU’s values or one based on old Soviet values? Alina Inayeh, Director of the Black Sea Trust, reminded the participants not to forget about civil society as an actor in regional cooperation. Finally, Frank Umbach, Associate Director of the European Centre for Energy and Resource Security – EUCERS at King’s College in London, closed the circle and discussed the use of energy resources as a “weapon” in security policy.

During the 2nd and 3rd day of the Black Sea Young Reformers Conference the fellows were encouraged to develop project proposals on the terms of success stories in the Black Sea Region. In the course of two workshops, the projects were developed, reviewed and refined.  If you are curious about which of those innovative project ideas will soon be realized, we will keep you updated!

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