On a European Parliament recommendation to the Council, Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for a review of the EU’s Black Sea Strategy
AFET-PR-796301
Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Helmut Brandstätter
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A draft report from Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs proposes a recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the High Representative for a review of the EU's Black Sea Strategy.¶¶ It asks them to make the Black Sea region a permanent EU priority and to strengthen coordination of civilian, maritime, diplomatic, security and defence instruments.¶ It calls for a Black Sea Maritime Security Hub, mine clearance, protection of critical infrastructure, energy interconnections and connectivity projects.¶¶¶ It also asks for action against foreign information manipulation and cyberattacks, support for the blue economy and people-to-people contacts, and a clear implementation framework with adequate financing.¶¶¶ It requests regular reporting to Parliament and coherence with other regional frameworks.¶¶¶
Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament recommend a review of the EU's Black Sea Strategy, making the region a permanent priority and setting out measures on security, energy, connectivity, environment, disinformation, economic resilience and governance.¶¶¶
Key points
- Makes the Black Sea region a permanent priority of EU security, connectivity, economic development and resilience policies, with stronger coordination between EU instruments.¶
- Calls for developing the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub for maritime situational awareness, information-sharing, risk assessment, mine action and protection of critical maritime infrastructure.¶
- Asks for cooperation on mine clearance, maritime safety, port and submarine infrastructure protection, military mobility and preparedness for hybrid threats, with complementarity between EU and NATO action.¶¶
- Calls for faster development of cross-border electricity interconnections, renewable energy, storage and resilient energy infrastructure, and stronger protection of cables, pipelines, ports and digital infrastructure.¶¶
- Asks for swift implementation of the EU Connectivity Agenda and the Connectivity Agenda coordination platform launched in June 2026, with transparency, sustainability and anti-corruption measures.¶¶
- Calls for regional cooperation on pollution, biodiversity loss, marine ecosystems, sustainable fisheries, marine research, climate adaptation and a sustainable blue economy.¶¶
- Asks for environmental monitoring, early warning and civil protection mechanisms to be integrated into regional security, connectivity and infrastructure planning.¶
- Calls for capacities against foreign information manipulation and interference, cyberattacks and hybrid threats, with cooperation among institutions, media, civil society and fact-checkers.¶¶
- Asks for systematic use of the EU Hybrid Toolbox, FIMI Toolbox and Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox and protection of democratic institutions, elections, journalism and civil society.¶
- Calls for EU financial instruments to support sustainable investment, innovation, small and medium-sized enterprises, research and education, and for people-to-people contacts, academic cooperation and youth mobility.¶¶
- Asks for an implementation framework with measurable objectives, timelines, financing, responsible actors and indicators, adequate and predictable financing including from the next multiannual financial framework, and regular reporting to Parliament.¶¶¶
- Calls for coherence with regional frameworks covering the Black Sea, the Danube region, the Baltic Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean, and for Parliament to be fully informed and involved in future priorities.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- The Council, the Commission and the High Representative, who are asked to carry out the recommended actions.¶
- EU member states and partner countries in the region, whose capabilities and cooperation the EU should support.¶
- Regional partners and candidate countries, with whom cooperation on connectivity, environment and the blue economy is sought.¶¶
- Independent media, civil society, researchers and fact-checkers, whose cooperation against disinformation is sought.¶