The year of 2007 represents a year in which not only have Romania and Bulgaria become EU member states but also, the European Commission has recognized the need to treat the Black Sea area as a region and to formulate a new approach and a new financial instrument for it. Moreover, the Black Sea Trust Fund also based in Bucharest will become operational in 2007. Taken together, these initiatives for the Black Sea region, as well as others, rely on an active and vibrant civil society for ensuring the stability of the region.

A strong civil society in the Black Sea region is indispensable for democratic consolidation and plays an important factor in conflict transformation.

As ENP is evolving and is being strengthened and more clear priorities are emerging, there is a gap which derives mainly from lack of transparency and communication, weak civil society capacity, intra-regional competition, rigid and bureaucratic assistance instruments. Thus, there is a clear need for experts to look in detail on how to match existing resources and instruments with the objectives/priorities which are gradually shared by governments and civil society (with respective variations from one country to another).

The aim is to jointly assess the priorities for the region, the existing and new instruments for assistance and regional / cross-border cooperation, while in the same time having a specific focus on the need for more structured dialogue between governments and civil society, especially in those areas which are of vital important for regional peace and stability.

Agenda

Presentations

Summary of discussions

Conclusions