Press Release: Black Sea Synergy – bringing the region closer to the EU

The Commission has put forward a new co-operation initiative of the European Union for the Black Sea region under the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The “Black Sea Synergy” aims at developing co-operation within the Black Sea region itself and between the region and the EU and thus implements the Commission's December 2006 proposal to add a regional dimension to the ENP. With bilateral EU policies addressing countries of the region set out in the ENP, the pre-accession process with Turkey as well as the Strategic Partnership with Russia, “Black Sea Synergy” will be complementary to the EU’s already substantial efforts to promote stability and reforms in the countries around the Black Sea. This initiative completes the “chain” of regional cooperation frameworks in the EU’s neighbourhood, adding to the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and the Northern Dimension.

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 14.5.07: Council Conclusions on the Black Sea synergy initiative, May 2007 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/gena/94080.pdf

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