A former First Minister of Scotland is to lead an international group which aims to drive regeneration of communities in Eastern Europe.
Labour’s Jack McConnell is making a return to the international stage to head up the Developing Optimal and Open Research Support for the Black Sea (DOORS) group.
The group aims to boost economic development in countries on the coast of the Black Sea, including war-torn Ukraine.
This year is the 28th anniversary of the signing of the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan, which aims to improve the lives of the 16 million people from six countries who live near the Black Sea’s shore.
The DOORS Black Sea Special Interest Group will consider innovative and emerging opportunities for investment in the blue economy in Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Turkey, along with Ukraine.
Launched today, the group is co-ordinated by the University of Stirling.
Special Interest Group Chair, and University of Stirling Chancellor, Lord McConnell said: “The Black Sea and its coast is a remarkable region of Europe with a distinct history, but an even more promising future. There is definite, untapped potential to develop the region’s economic prospects sustainably, building a thriving blue economy that can benefit both people and planet.
“Our selected themes of renewables, tourism, and aquaculture not only offer the promise of increased employment and investment but can help to support the region’s transition to a greener future through energy security, food security, and a celebration of its shared past.
“By forging meaningful and transformative connections between innovators, entrepreneurs and investors, the DOORS research project will seize these exciting opportunities, helping to transform that vision of a prosperous, sustainable future into a reality.”
The blue economy is the sustainable use of ocean, sea, and coastal resources for economic prosperity, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of marine ecosystems.
The DOORS Black Sea Special Interest Group brings together carefully selected entrepreneurs, researchers, and global statespeople to champion the distinct opportunities in this unique part of the world.
Innovative new technologies which can unlock an ability to understand the region’s environment in new ways are also being considered.
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The group will develop a portfolio of investment opportunities to be published in spring 2025, connecting promising business prospects and budding entrepreneurs with investors.
The DOORS Black Sea Special Interest Group has been formed as part of a €9 million EU-funded research project, linking science, policy, and industry for critical Black Sea regeneration.
DOORS involves the University of Stirling alongside 34 partners from the Black Sea states and elsewhere in Europe.
“New technologies are enabling more sophisticated, joined-up approaches to understanding the Black Sea, its environment, and our interaction with its ecosystems. This enhanced understanding can help foster intelligent new approaches to economic development, supporting new businesses and enabling more effective regulation.”
A thriving blue economy can also support stability in the region, where the ongoing war in Ukraine is having a marked impact on welfare and wellbeing. The Group hopes that its work can underpin the vital work of economic recovery, both in Ukraine and further afield.
Nadezhda Neynsky, Former Bulgarian Minister for Foreign Affairs and member of the Special Interest Group, said: “War in the Black Sea region is having a catastrophic impact. We have all seen the human tragedy inflicted through Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“The environmental impacts of the war, and its impact on livelihoods throughout the region, will also cast a long shadow.
“Now is the time to plan for the future, to invest in security through prosperity and partnership, and to foster new opportunities for the region’s people, businesses, and communities.”
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