The EU Mission Ocean & Waters hosted the conference “From the Danube Source to the Black Sea – Healthy Waters and Healthy Life” on 15 October in Burgas, Bulgaria. The BRIDGE-BS community actively participated, contributing to insightful sessions and engaging discussions throughout the event.

Representing the Turkish National Hub of the Common Maritime Agenda (CMA) for the Black Sea, BRIDGE-BS Coordinator Barış Salihoğlu highlighted the collaborative efforts of CMA, the Black Sea Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), and its Implementation Plan. He reaffirmed BRIDGE-BS’s commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and aligning these initiatives. Salihoğlu underscored that the Danube, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean are interconnected parts of one ocean, stressing the vital role of regional and international collaboration in preserving our seas and oceans.

During the event, Prof. Milen Baltov, Rector of Burgas Free University, dedicated his EU Mission Charter certificate to BRIDGE-BS and DOORS as two key H2020 projects advancing the Black Sea SRIA and supporting the objectives of the EU Mission Ocean & Waters.

Additionally, BRIDGE-BS PhD student and Bulgarian Black Sea Young Ambassador Nikola Bobchev shared impactful awareness-raising activities focused on the Black Sea, further emphasizing the importance of youth engagement and education in marine conservation efforts.