Balkans & Black Sea Cooperation Forum: A world of History a world of Opportunities

Balkans & Black Sea Cooperation Forum© aiming at highlighting cross‐border cooperation, enhancing bilateral and multilateral relations, strengthening business opportunities and promoting economic growth and sustainable development among the 17 States of the Balkans and Black Sea region. 

At the cross section of public & business sectors, Forum stands as think-tank to outline current situation, quote political indicators, navigate to growth and cooperation and monitor perspectives and SDGs towards 2030 whilst Official Partner is the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) and Strategic Partners the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) and the European Banking Federation (EBF).

Rotating annually in a different State of the region, the participants shall be Senior Officials from the EU, the Balkans and the Black SeaBodies & Institutions, Officials from International Organizations, public officials, diplomats, businesses, entrepreneurs and academia, at the core of which lies panels' representation which by majority are consisted by international speakers and moderators. 

Forum will be covering 7 topics: EU Balkans & Black Sea Perspectives and SDGs towards 2030, Digital Economy & Innovation, Maritime-Transportation-Infrastructures & Hubs, Roads of Energy, Women in leadership, Agriculture, Environment & Use of sources and Cultural & Sustainable Tourism, whilst 2017 headline is “Cultural Tourism | a key to Sustainable Development” aligned with UN resolution that has adopted 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. 

Among the speakers will be Mr. Alexis Tsipras, Prime Minister Hellenic Republic* Mrs. Irina Bokova, Secretary General UNESCO*  Mr. Rikard Scoufias, Country Manager TAP AG, Mr. Wim Groenendijk, Director International Business N.V. Gasunie Netherlands, Mr. Nikos Pappas, Minister of Digital Policy, Telecommunications & Media Greece*, Mr. Wim Mijs, CEO, European Banking Federation, Mrs. Klajda Gjosha, Minister European Integration Albania, Mrs. Anastasia Sideri, Director Communications Central-SE Europe, Coca-Cola Company, Dr. Ihsan Uğur Delikanli, President Black Sea Trade and Development Bank , US Ambassador H.E. Geoffrey R. Pyatt in Greece*,  Mrs. Ana Birchall, Minister Delegate for European Affairs MFA Romania, Mr. Patrick Anvroin, Director Transportations, Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions, Dr. Frans-Paul van der Putten, Sr. Research Fellow, Clingendael Institute of International Relations Netherlands, Mrs. Mirela Kumbaro, Minister Culture | Albania, Mr. Luigi Cabrini, Chair Global Sustainable Tourism Council etc. (* invited)

Alongside the conference it will be areas open to the public: (I) a Cultural Zone to promote the cultural heritage of two honorary countries, and (II) a Business HUB for partners, sponsors and organizations for the promotion of their activities and brand identities.

The States of the Region (in alphabetical order) are Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYROM, Georgia, Greece (2017 hosting country), Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine.