1. Black Sea,
Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis,
Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and
Protection of the Black Sea

2. BACKGROUND
1992 Bucharest Convention on the Protection of the Black
Sea Against Pollution; and its protocols on LBS, dumping,
and oil pollution
 6 coastal states with no outside intervention
 modeled partially on UNEP Regional Seas
Programme and partially HELCOM; Secretariat by the
Parties
 a legal & diplomatic tool,
 swift ratification, problems in setting up and funding
the regional coordinating mechanism
 call to UNEP for its assistance in preparing an Action
Plan in view of lacking capacity and funds

3. GEF INTERVENTION
A series of projects (1993-2000) funded by GEF and other
donors, mainly Phare & Tacis which largely became known
as Black Sea Environmental Programme
Odessa Declaration, a common but interim policy
statement to guide the implementation of the Convention: a
more comprehensive and explicit commitment by the
Governments’ towards sustainable development and
principles underlying that;
call renewed to GEF, political commitment expressed

4. GEF project (BSEP)
 improved the capacity to assess and manage
 supported development of common policies, and
 facilitated preparation of investments
networked institutions, thematic RACs and Working
Parties-Advisory Groups
TOWARDS THE TDA
thematic national assessments were integrated at regional
level – regional network of experts; includes analyses of
HOT SPOTS (49)
gaps in data partially compensated by special studies and
data from international scientific surveys
 regional thematic reports analysed for transboundary
causes and impacts of environmental degradation

5.
TDA, 1996
 holistic approach; pollution control ⇒living resources
management and human development
 Examines root causes , and proposes alternatives for
action;‘identifies’ possible stakeholders, includes costs of
joint actions, and remedial action for hot spots
 suggests a jointly agreed interim strategy since complete
removal of the threat is not likely in view of economic and
social problems: gradual reduction of environmental stress,
better understanding of the health of ecosystem, redefined
targets: adaptive management
regulation, investments, preventive and anticipatory actions

6. STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN FOR THE
PROTECTION AND REHABILITATION OF THE
BLACK SEA, 1996, BSSAP
 Based on the findings of the TDA, its recommendations
negotiated by Governments
Aims a healthy living environment, and a biologically
diverse ecosystem to support the livelihoods based on
sustainable activities
 Sets down the policies of regional cooperation, and
identifies policy actions (59); sets timeframes ;describes
institutional arrangements; suggests instruments for
financing implementation; calls for action at the national
(NBSSAPs) and wider basin level

7. THE TDA, successes, weaknesses and further needs:
 based on fragmented data, actual discharges of pollutants
not available (rapid assessment method); one-time
analysis, data not updated as yet, scientific uncertainties
continue
Pressures on ecosystem? Level of improvement needed
for the health of ecosystem?Efficacy of measures taken?
BSERP: status, process and stress reduction indicators
to be monitored ; BSIMAP-2003,
Basin wide assessment: BS Danube JWG

8.  Causes and Alternatives for policy actions: limited by
insufficient data on sectors causing problems and low level
of stakeholder involvement (affordability, viability, local
solutions)
an in depth causal chain analysis (policy, finance,
technology,institutions) and commitments that can
feasibly be fulfilled are needed.
BSERP: will use GIWA methodology (a reference
method for future assessments) and sectoral
assessments for identifying not only immediate causes
but those stemming from socio-economic origins in
priority sectors; sectoral master plans; greater
stakeholder involvement through inter-ministerial
committees, continuous dialogue with NGOs and main
stakeholder groups

9. BSSAP, successes, weaknesses and further needs:
 Behind schedule: assumed functioning institutional set-
up [1] and enforcement mechanisms (Black Sea
Commission)
 continued economic crises, other pressing priorities,
Recently, Governments reviewed 6 years of
implementation: although there is some progress there’s
much to achieve
They also revised the Plan, and ‘postponed target dates’
[1] 8 years of delay in setting up of the Secretariat, inefficient functioning of the Commission: no compliance monitoring,
no dispute settlement mechanisms, weak accountability, no action towards further setting or updating of norms and
adopting common objectives (Following establishment of PS, Commission has been speeding up actions as evidenced by
the adoption of the Biodiversity and Landscape Protocol, annual reporting, BSIMAP)

10.  translation of policy objectives into enforcement
mechanisms: out of 6 NBSSAPs, only 1 endorsed by the
respective Government (ownership and full integration in
development is questionable);
 BSSAP turned out to be a PLAN rather than a
PROGRAMME, a ‘framework’ for collaborative action at
regional level, in view of the delay in setting up of the
international coordinating mechanism –no acccountability-
& absence of NBSSAPs that were expected to detail
actions at national and local level and to commit states,
institutions, and main stakeholder groups

11.  Not prioritized in view of real chance of funding;
contains full range of actions needed, partially costed :full
costing only if costs of action by individual countries are
also known
BSERP : eutrophication as priority, basin-wide
approach, national sectoral master plans; MOU Black
Sea & Danube Commissions, EU support
 Negotiations basically involved environmental
authorities, missing representatives of other sectors and
financing institutions,
 involvement of stakeholders is limited to a weak
involvement of environmental NGOs,

12. What do people need and what they can afford? The social
optimal. assessment and negotiation
How to they contribute? commitments and partnerships
How do they follow-up of compliance? Two-way
communication
 Cost-benefit analysis needed for investments as well
as structural reforms- both at the national and regional
levels
 High expectations by Governments and international
community largely unmet reducing the momentum for
remedying regionally significant problems : Balancing
local , national, transboundary interests ; commitment from
financial institutions (Partnership Investment Facility, EU
accession)

13. Setting timeframes: should be based on not only
negotiating skills, but on realistic terms in view of national
and international sources of financing;
Should be tiered to Government programmes for
development and to socio-economic dynamics, eg.
macroeconomic balances, role of private sector in
economy, civic movement, EU accession, Partnership
Investment Facility
 Maintaining the momentum : mutual accountability
throughout the region and basin, performance indicators
BS Commission; Black Sea Danube MOU

14. Post mortem …
• BS TDA HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL FOR
TAKING AN INITIAL SHOT BUT HAS TO BE
CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED AND ITS FINDINGS
FED INTO THE BSSAP
•BSSAP HAS TO BE MORE CLOSELY TIERED TO
SOCIO-ECONOMIC REALITIES, NATIONAL AND
LOCAL CAPABILITIES. IMPROVEMENT ON
REGIONAL SCALE IS CRITICALLY DEPENDENT
ON IMPROVEMENT AT NATIONAL & LOCAL
LEVELS
•STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION AND
COMMITMENT ENHANCE VIABILTY

15. •INFORMATION BASIS NEEDS TO BE
STRENGTHENED AND INFORMATION HAS TO
BE SHARED
•SUCCESS STORIES ARE NEEDED
•ACCOUNTABILITY SHOULD BE INCREASED
• RESPONSIBILITIES SHOULD BE FULFILLED
ALL THROUGH THE BASIN