Board
Chairman-in-office: Emmanouil KALAINTZIS
Secretary General: Angelitsa BITI
Brief description
The BSEC-Black Sea Economic Cooperation was initiated in 1992 as an informal intergovernmental meeting on Black Sea Economic Cooperation and was converted into an international economic organization on 1 May 1999, with the coming into force of its Charter signed in June 1998 in Yalta.
The BSEC has its headquarters in Istanbul and is composed of twelve member states (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldavia, Romania, the Russian Federation, Serbia, Turkey and the Ukraine). The following countries and international organisations have been granted observer status: Austria, Belarus, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Tunisia, the US, as well as the (non-governmental) International Black Sea Club, the Energy Charter Secretariat and the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution.
The BSECs work is based on procedural rules providing for decision-making with specific types of majority, depending on the subject, although the general view is that efforts are made for BSEC decisions to be taken unanimously. The principal regular decision making organ of the Organization is the Council of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, while the procedural and substantive functions of the BSEC are being coordinated by a rotating six-month Chairmanship, undertaken by the Member States in alphabetical order (Hellenic Chairmanship from 1st of June 2010 31st of December 2010). The decision making within the BSEC is, apart from the Summit, bestowed upon the Council which may charge subsidiary organs to make a decision on a particular question and inform the Council on it. The Council shall, in principle, be convened at least once every six months. Additional meetings of the Council may be held upon the request of one or more of the Member States, subject to consensus of the Member States. According to the issues being set in the Agenda, the Members States of the BSEC are also represented by their respective Minister (i.e. Ministers of Transport, Ministers of Energy).
The seat of the Permanent International Secretariat (PERMIS) is in Instanbul. On 1 May 2006, Greek Ambassador Mr. Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos assumed the post of Secretary General of the BSEC Permanent International Secretariat; he was elected, through consensus by the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the BSEC member states (Bucharest, 26/4/2006).
Other Bodies related with the BSEC Organisation are: (i) The BSEC Parliamentary Assembly (PABSEC). The seat of the International Secretariat of the PABSEC is in Istanbul; (ii) the BSEC Business Council, which reflects the importance attributed by the Organization to improving the business environment and extending cooperation across the Black Sea region. The seat of the Secretariat of the BSEC Business Council is in Istanbul; (iii) The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, which is the Organizations funding mechanism, is based in Thessaloniki; (iv) The International Center for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS), headquartered in Athens. It is acknowledged as the Organizations de facto think-tank and covers cooperation between scientific and academic communities of the BSEC member states, and its promotion through other similar foundations and organisations. The Project Development Fund is another valuable tool for developing regional economic cooperation, providing funding opportunities for member state public and private agencies entrusted with carrying out preliminary feasibility studies for development projects. This Fund operates within the framework of the BSEC International Secretariat.
Intergovernmental cooperation within the BSEC focuses principally on the fields of energy, transport, communications, trade and economic development, banking and finance, institutional renewal and good governance, combating organised crime, environmental protection, agriculture, cooperation in healthcare issues, emergency assistance, research and development, education, tourism, culture, facilitating the transport of goods and customs procedures, exchange of statistical data and the promotion of SMEs.
Documentation
Agenda
Topic Area A: Organized Crime counter measures:
regional mechanisms to combat money laundering and trafficking of illicit funds
countermeasures and sustainable development
Chairman-in-office: Emmanouil KALAINTZIS
Secretary General: Angelitsa BITI
Brief description
The BSEC-Black Sea Economic Cooperation was initiated in 1992 as an informal intergovernmental meeting on Black Sea Economic Cooperation and was converted into an international economic organization on 1 May 1999, with the coming into force of its Charter signed in June 1998 in Yalta.
The BSEC has its headquarters in Istanbul and is composed of twelve member states (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldavia, Romania, the Russian Federation, Serbia, Turkey and the Ukraine). The following countries and international organisations have been granted observer status: Austria, Belarus, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Tunisia, the US, as well as the (non-governmental) International Black Sea Club, the Energy Charter Secretariat and the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution.
The BSECs work is based on procedural rules providing for decision-making with specific types of majority, depending on the subject, although the general view is that efforts are made for BSEC decisions to be taken unanimously. The principal regular decision making organ of the Organization is the Council of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, while the procedural and substantive functions of the BSEC are being coordinated by a rotating six-month Chairmanship, undertaken by the Member States in alphabetical order (Hellenic Chairmanship from 1st of June 2010 31st of December 2010). The decision making within the BSEC is, apart from the Summit, bestowed upon the Council which may charge subsidiary organs to make a decision on a particular question and inform the Council on it. The Council shall, in principle, be convened at least once every six months. Additional meetings of the Council may be held upon the request of one or more of the Member States, subject to consensus of the Member States. According to the issues being set in the Agenda, the Members States of the BSEC are also represented by their respective Minister (i.e. Ministers of Transport, Ministers of Energy).
The seat of the Permanent International Secretariat (PERMIS) is in Instanbul. On 1 May 2006, Greek Ambassador Mr. Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos assumed the post of Secretary General of the BSEC Permanent International Secretariat; he was elected, through consensus by the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the BSEC member states (Bucharest, 26/4/2006).
Other Bodies related with the BSEC Organisation are: (i) The BSEC Parliamentary Assembly (PABSEC). The seat of the International Secretariat of the PABSEC is in Istanbul; (ii) the BSEC Business Council, which reflects the importance attributed by the Organization to improving the business environment and extending cooperation across the Black Sea region. The seat of the Secretariat of the BSEC Business Council is in Istanbul; (iii) The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, which is the Organizations funding mechanism, is based in Thessaloniki; (iv) The International Center for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS), headquartered in Athens. It is acknowledged as the Organizations de facto think-tank and covers cooperation between scientific and academic communities of the BSEC member states, and its promotion through other similar foundations and organisations. The Project Development Fund is another valuable tool for developing regional economic cooperation, providing funding opportunities for member state public and private agencies entrusted with carrying out preliminary feasibility studies for development projects. This Fund operates within the framework of the BSEC International Secretariat.
Intergovernmental cooperation within the BSEC focuses principally on the fields of energy, transport, communications, trade and economic development, banking and finance, institutional renewal and good governance, combating organised crime, environmental protection, agriculture, cooperation in healthcare issues, emergency assistance, research and development, education, tourism, culture, facilitating the transport of goods and customs procedures, exchange of statistical data and the promotion of SMEs.
Documentation
- Rules Applying to the Council of Ministers for the Ministerial Summit of the Black Sea Economic Co-operation Organisation
- Guidelines for BSEC Ministerial Declaration Writing
Agenda
Topic Area A: Organized Crime counter measures:
regional mechanisms to combat money laundering and trafficking of illicit funds
The Black Sea Economic Cooperation recognizes the fact that transnational organized crime is a major threat to the region's economic stability and security. BSEC acknowledges the emerge need for its member states to adopt a common approach to deterring money laundering and trafficking of illicit funds. Member states of BSEC should include into their objectives to fight against transnational organized crime and corruption, and also create a basic mechanisms to counteract transnational crime.Topic Area B: Hydrocarbon Resources exploitation in the Black Sea region
A better understanding and awareness of the geopolitical ramifications of transnational crime in the Black Sea region will provide BSEC member states with the necessary information for the creation of news effective security strategies.
Study Guide
countermeasures and sustainable development
The Black Sea itself is under serious threat. Elaborate work needs to be done in this sphere individually and collectively by the Member States and with the support/involvement, when and where needed, of the Third Parties who are also responsible, albeit partly, for the existing pollution. The NGO support and active participation in combating pollution is an effective way and needs to be propagated.
The exploitation resources has increased in the past years making such issue considerable under the BSEC agenda. The need to head towards a sustainable transportation as well as means of extraction of hydrocarbons is a now more than ever needed. The BSEC must face the burden to promote cooperative activities and furthermore decide upon a common framework on environmental protection.
Study Guide
