The document discusses trade between the EU and countries around the Black Sea. It notes that the Black Sea is an important gateway connecting Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. It emphasizes that trade cooperation is a key part of ensuring economic benefits, sustainable development, and building trust between stakeholders. The EU has established various trade agreements with Black Sea countries like Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Serbia, and Albania. It aims to further strengthen trade relationships in the region through initiatives like Russia joining the WTO and deepening agreements with Eastern Partnership countries. The overall EU trade agenda is presented as contributing to open markets, stability in the region, and spreading good governance.

1. The EU and the
Black Sea
- trade aspects -
Trade

2. BSEC from an EU point of view
• Black Sea as a gateway between Europe, Asia and
the Middle East
• We must offer Black Sea stakeholders an
opportunity to identify areas where our interests
come together to further practical cooperation
• EU observer
Trade

3. BSEC from an EU point of view
• Practical cooperation: about increasing economic
benefits and social opportunities for people, and
about ensuring sustainable economic development
and about building trust
• In that regard, trade cooperation as a key
element
Trade

4. The EU Black Sea strategy of 2008
• The EU is willing to share responsibility for the
peaceful and prosperous development of the region
• The Black Sea is important for the EU, which wants
to play a constructive role in all the sea basins
surrounding it, taking its responsibilities in full
• A tool: The Black Sea Synergy Initiative of 2008,
in order to foster pragmatic regional dialogue
Working Groups on trade, customs, exchange of
statistical data
Trade

5. Trade as a support to the BSEC
process
• BSEC is about fostering interaction and harmony
among the Member States and ensuring peace,
stability and prosperity
• Trade as a key component of peace, stability and
prosperity;
• Trade handled at the EU level (EU exclusive
competence)
Trade

6. The EU has extensive relations with
the Black Sea's countries
• Greece, Bulgaria and Romania are EU Member
States
• Russia: a strategic partner
• Turkey: an EU candidate country
• The Eastern European Partners, and the
Stabilisation and Association Process with the
Western Balkans (Serbia and Albania)
Trade

7. BSEC: an already privileged trade
relations with the EU
• Romania, Bulgaria and Greece - EU members
• Turkey - Customs Union with the EU
• FTAs - Albania and Serbia
• Trade preferences - Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia,
Armenia, Azerbaijan
Trade

8. Towards a further step in trade
• Russia joining the WTO
• The Eastern Partnership (Ukraine, Moldova,
Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan): political association
and the economic integration with the EU
• "Money, Mobility, Market" – the future Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade
Trade

9. The EU trade agenda
Contributes to:
• open market
• stabilize ("made trade not war")
• spread over governance
Trade