1. EU work and multilateral cooperation in the Black Sea
Stelios Mitolidis
Deputy Head of Unit
Unit D1 – Fisheries Management Mediterranean and Black Sea
DG MARE, European Commission

2. Priorities
The European Union is considering work in the Black Sea as one of its political priorities.
European Union will continue its efforts towards protecting the environment in the Black Sea, promoting Blue Growth and regional cooperation

3. How to achieve Sustainable Fisheries in the Black Sea – Multilateral and EU actions
GFCM Mid-term strategy ( ) towards the sustainability of Mediterranean and Black Sea
Bucharest Declaration towards enhanced cooperation on Black Sea Fisheries and Aquaculture
"BlackSea4fish" project
CFP (EU regulations – e.g. Basic regulation, fishing opportunites, Control regulation, etc.)

4. Multilateral Dimension
In September 2016, the GFCM adopted, with EU full support, its new strategy where specific attention is given to the problems of the Black Sea.
And in October 2016 a High-Level Conference on Black Sea Fisheries and Aquaculture was organised, resulting in the adoption of the Bucharest Declaration underpinning the need, for common and collaborative approaches among riparian states to address and promote:
sustainable exploitation of marine living resources
closer collaboration on scientific advice
sustainable development of aquaculture
Sustainable small-scale fisheries and capacity building

5. EU instruments towards fisheries sustainability in the Black Sea - CFP
What is the CFP?
set of rules for managing European fishing fleets and for conserving fish stocks
first introduced in the 1970s and went through successive updates, the most recent of which took effect on 1 January 2014
What are the aims?
fishing and aquaculture are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable
Exploit the fish stocks at sustainable level s at the latest by 2020
Eliminating unwanted catches
The NEW CFP also changes the way in which the CFP is managed, giving EU countries greater control at national and regional level.

6. EU instruments towards fisheries sustainability in the Black Sea - CFP
Regulation fixing for 2017 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks in the Black Sea
Bulgaria and Romania
Committed to work with the Commission in the implementation of the objectives of the recently adopted Bucharest Declaration and the GFCM mid-term strategy ( ) toward the sustainability of Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries

7. EU instruments towards fisheries sustainability in the Black Sea - CFP
Is the Commission undertaking any type of action to improve stakeholders coordination at the national and regional level?
Since the early 2000's the Commission has placed at the top of its agenda promotion of the involvement of the fisheries' stakeholders into fisheries policy developments
Black Sea Advisory Council
The first meeting towards the creation of a Black Sea Advisory Council was organised by the COM and held in Brussels in June 2013
BG-RO stakeholders met recently in Varna in November 2016 and on 15 to 17 March 2017

8. Cooperation and technical assistance
Work of GFCM:
Permanent network for cooperation and technical assistance to be established within GFCM by end 2018, regional programmes for education and training
Work of EU:
Increase focus on fisheries from non EU states in their respective EU related instruments (Association Agreements, Action Plans, Partnership Priorities, cooperation projects – TAEIX, etc.)
Training programmes offered by EFCA

9. Cooperation and technical assistance
The EU is financing, though voluntary contributions, the GFCM work (in we provided new funds of 2,4 million euros; on top of existing on-going grants of 0,8 million euros and our normal contracting party obligatory contribution)
The EU is ready to consider increase funding for GFCM through its voluntary contribution with the aim to support the implementation of the GFCM work

10. Thank you!