ORGANIZATION OF THE BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Their core work

BSEC is an intergovernmental organization that facilitates regional cooperation among Black Sea countries, serving as a policy and coordination hub for marine and environmental initiatives. In H2020 projects, they contribute regional governance expertise, connect research with policy frameworks across Black Sea nations, and support blue economy and climate adaptation strategies. Their role centers on bridging research outcomes with regional policy implementation and enabling cross-border collaboration in the Black Sea basin.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

BSEC entered H2020 in 2019 with a focus on strategic coordination — building blue growth strategies, marine innovation roadmaps, and research coordination frameworks for the Black Sea (Black Sea CONNECT). By 2021, their involvement shifted toward applied environmental challenges: coastal restoration, blue carbon, climate adaptation finance, and ecosystem governance (REST-COAST, ARSINOE). This reflects a clear move from policy planning toward implementation-oriented environmental action.

BSEC is moving from strategic marine planning toward hands-on climate resilience and ecosystem restoration projects, making them increasingly relevant for applied environmental consortia needing regional governance partners.

How they like to work

BSEC participates exclusively as a partner, never as coordinator — consistent with their role as a regional intergovernmental body that brings political convening power rather than technical project management. With 117 unique partners across 24 countries from just 4 projects, they operate in large, diverse consortia. This wide network makes them a connector organization: valuable for opening doors across Black Sea nations and linking research with regional policy channels.

Despite only 4 projects, BSEC has collaborated with 117 unique partners across 24 countries — an exceptionally broad network reflecting the large-scale, multi-national nature of the marine and climate consortia they join. Their geographic center is the Black Sea region, but their partnerships span across Europe.

What sets them apart

BSEC is an intergovernmental organization representing Black Sea member states — a rare type of partner that brings political legitimacy and regional policy access rather than technical research capacity. For any consortium targeting the Black Sea basin, BSEC offers something almost no other partner can: direct connection to national governments and regional policy frameworks. They are the go-to partner when a project needs to demonstrate real policy uptake in the Black Sea region.

Highlights from their portfolio

• REST-COAST
  Largest funding (EUR 259,625) and most ambitious scope — large-scale coastal restoration spanning rivers to sea, with blue carbon and biodiversity dimensions.
• BRIDGE-BS
  Combines ecosystem science (biogeochemistry, multi-stressors) with economic development (start-ups, capacity building), bridging research and blue economy in the Black Sea.