Healthy Waters and Healthy Life" held on October 15, 2024, at the Burgas Free University (BFU) in Burgas, Bulgaria
The international conference titled "From the Danube Source to Black Sea – Healthy Waters and Healthy Life" held on October 15, 2024, at the Burgas Free University (BFU) in Burgas, Bulgaria hosted a panel discussion that was enquiring how to enhance resilience in Danube and Black Sea. This engaging panel discussion brought together a diverse group of experts to address key challenges and strategies for building a resilient Danube River and Black Sea ecosystem.
Moderated by Florence Ranson, the session featured prominent speakers from government, international organizations, and youth initiatives, each offering their unique insights into water management, policy development, and sustainable practices. Julian Popov, Adviser at the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water highlighted the need to think in the ocean economy perspective highlights the economical, environmental and social assets. Boyan Zhekov, National Coordinator for Bulgaria for the Horizon Europe programme at the Ministry of Education and Science, emphasized the importance of wider involvement of municipalities and regions to boost business and bring private money. Márton Pesel, representing the EU Strategy for the Danube Region from Hungary's General Directorate of Water Management (joining online), emphasised the river basin perspective focused on the need for cross-border cooperation. He highlighted Hungary's initiatives stressing that integrated river basin management is essential to achieve resilience, especially as countries face increasing climate-related water challenges. Baris Salihoglu, representing the Black Sea Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda and the Common Maritime Agenda Black Sea National Hub from Türkiye, emphasized the interconnectedness of the Black Sea region and called for greater acceleration programs. Birgit Vogel, Executive Secretary at the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (participating online) reflected upon Danube binding countries together and the need to enhance the coordination and cooperation. Margherita Cappelletto, representing the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership at the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (joining online), highlighted Italy's commitment to advancing the blue economy in the Black Sea region. Barna Kovacs, Secretary-General of BIOEAST Initiative at the Permanent Representation of Hungary to the EU, articulated the need to involve policy makers in the discussion giving a BIOEAST Initiative and its Thematic Working Groups as an example of policy - expert cooperation. Gabriela Radkova, a member of the Danube Youth Council, brought a fresh perspective by emphasizing the importance of youth involvement in shaping the future of the Danube and Black Sea regions and advocated for more opportunities to engage young people in decision-making processes.
Barna Kovács concluded the discussion: "The need for wider involvement of national likewise regional policy makers echoed the discussion. The frequency of floods and droughts that are occurring not only in the Danube river basin is showing us a clear message - stop thinking in silos, freshwater issues must be considered in a wider perspective taking soil, climate, agriculture in a bigger picture."
The BIOEAST Initiative reaffirmed its commitment to advancing freshwater research and innovation agenda for the Danube and Black Sea Lighthouse. The initiative helped to set the priority during the High-Level Conference held under the Czech EU Presidency. The need for comprehensive and integrated approaches, highlighted in Prague, has become increasingly urgent. Freshwater related research priorities are further discussed, promoted and supported in the Stakeholder Manifesto, among others a new holistic approach is now being developed within the BIOEAST Thematic Working Group on Freshwater-Based Bioeconomy, accordingly the "Water-Soil-Climate Nexus" will be showcased at the upcoming High Level Event on 4-6 December in Budapest held under the Hungarian EU Presidency.