In brief
The 2nd Black Sea 2030 International Forum opened at the International Congress Centre in Burgas with government officials, academics, business leaders and youth. Topics ranged from security and marine resource management to technological innovations. A focus on the expo zone highlighted new tools for protection and sustainable development, while a lecture by the Honorary Director General at Burgas Free University extended the dialogue to academic circles.
The 2nd Black Sea 2030: Security, Resilience, Innovation International Forum opened on Friday, 27 April 2023, at the International Congress Centre in Burgas, on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Representatives from European and international institutions, government, business, academia, media and young people gathered to chart the region’s future, according to the Burgas Regional Information Centre.
The forum, organised by the Burgas Municipality and the Prospekti M Association, is a continuation of the Black Sea 2030 initiative, a strategic plan for the region’s security, sustainable development and technological progress. The agenda covered the new security environment, marine resource stewardship, the future of coastal communities and opportunities for forging new international partnerships, as reported by BTA.
Key highlights include the Technologies for a Secure and Sustainable Black Sea expo zone, where exhibitors demonstrated innovations that could strengthen protection, promote sustainable development and improve cooperation across the littoral states. The expo was described in the BTA report as a tool for better protection, sustainability and more effective collaboration in the region.
Among the forum’s participants were Bulgaria’s Environment and Water Minister Rositsa Karamfilova, James Morrison, the Healthy Planet Director at the Directorate‑General for Research and Innovation, George Kremlis, EPLO Ambassador to Bulgaria and EPLO Honorary Director, Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, Ivan Vasilev, Bulgaria’s Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation, and Ivelina Vasileva, a member of the European Commission’s Mission Board “Restore our Ocean and Waters”, per the official agenda.
The council offered a platform for dialogue and practical solutions aimed at mapping the Black Sea region’s development trajectory for the coming years. Attendees also spoke about the role of science, innovation and new technologies in reshaping the future of the sea. A separate session was dedicated to the participation of young people, the generation that will live with the consequences of today’s decisions, the forum’s organizers said.
Later on 30 October 2026, BTA noted a related event at Hall 110 of Burgas Free University: an open lecture delivered by the Honorary Director General, followed by a discussion panel. The lecture, scheduled for 16.30, was advertised on the university’s website, indicating a continued focus on Black Sea 2030 themes within academic circles.
The Policico Brussels Playbook newsletter reported that Research Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva also attended the conference, underscoring the level of European engagement the forum has attracted. No direct quotes from the participants are available in the sources cited here.
In summary, the Black Sea 2030 forum in Burgas brought together multi‑sector stakeholders to address regional security, sustainability and technological challenges. The combined efforts of government officials, business leaders, scientists and young people demonstrate a growing commitment to a resilient and innovative future for the Black Sea area.
