Objectives of the action

Overall objective(s)

1. To ensure progress towards the achievement of good environmental status
2. To enhance the cooperation between the Black Sea coastal states, signatories to the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution)
3. To providing institutional support to the Permanent Secretariat of the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution.

Specific objective(s)

1. To promote EU environmental objectives in Black Sea Region
2. To ensure that the development and implementation of environmental  policy within the Bucharest Convention is consistent with the EU acquis as well as other international commitments, namely the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).

4. To maintain and improve the operational capacity of the Permanent Secretariat to better support the Black Sea Commission in developing and management targets implementing regional policies.

Partner(s)

Target group(s)

(a)    the structures of the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (Advisory Groups, ad hoc Working Groups, Regional Activity Centers, etc.)

(b)   more indirectly - the national structures responsible for the implementation of the Convention in the Black Sea countries (Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation, Türkiye and Ukraine) i.e. Ministries of Environment, Ministries of Industry, Transport and related (and or functionally equivalent) River Basin Directorates, Regional Development  Organizations and funding sources ( e.g. Municipal Banks), etc

Final beneficiaries

All citizens potentially affected by the deterioration of the environmental conditions in the Black Sea region.

In the short and medium terms, the Bucharest Convention system and  the institutions dealing with environment management and policies in the Black Sea riparian countries (Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation, Türkiye and Ukraine)

Estimated results

1. Significant progress toward implementation of MSFD principles will be achieved, in particular through increased convergence between the policy and legal framework of the Black Sea with the Marine Strategy Directive.
2. Cooperation between the Black Sea coastal states (all of them) signatories to the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution will be enhanced, providing an adequate platform to seek regional solutions for transboundary problems.
3. Improving the coherence between the EU member and non member states in the Black Sea region.
4. The institutional capacity of the Permanent Secretariat and the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution will be supported, making it possible to develop management targets and implement regional policies.

Main activities

1. Carrying out of assessments of predominant pressures, impacts, state of the environment and coast, and carrying out of assessment of response to these pressures in prevailing management practices.
2. Support the development of the Black Sea monitoring program, further harmonization of standards, methodologies and monitoring strategies, and determination of good environmental status.
3. Further development of management targets including those defined in the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan 2008, (reduction of eutrophication, reduction of pollutants, originating from land based sources, conservation of Black Sea biodiversity and habitats, sustainable use of commercial fisheries, addressing climate change, reduction of pollution from shipping activities and offshore installations, ballast water management).
4. Further development of the programme of measures, support the development of relevant legislation and policies and their enforcement in the Black Sea region in within the framework of the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution

PA1   Review of the national monitoring systems and of the methodological tools for assessing marine environmental data

1.1

Preparation of special Questionnaire (Part 1 +Part2)

Provide comments on the draft Questionnaire  Part I and Part II

July 2013

1.2

Compilation of List of Stakeholders, communication with them and collation of information (through the Questionnaire), review of available documents

Contribute to the LoS compilation (especially international stakeholders)

July 2013

1.3

Preparation of a Report on the findings  and Recommendations for revision of national and regional monitoring systems and for further development of tools of management and assessment of data/information (Diagnostic Report II, Part I and Part II)

Contribute to the collection of information needed for the preparation of the Diagnostic Report II. Comment on the draft Diagnostic Report II, contribute to the finalization of the document and prepare recommendations for the revision of national and regional monitoring systems (Diagnostic Report II, Part I and Part II)

November – December 2013

1.4

Dissemination of the Diagnostic Report, work toward alignment of national funding with the needs identified in monitoring and data management

Disseminate the Diagnostic Report II at the level of relevant  international organizations

December 2013 – June 2014

PA2 Support to the implementation of countries obligations under the Bucharest and other related Conventions and Agreements

2.1

Facilitating the development of an indicator-based reporting on compliance within the Black Sea countries’ obligations under the Bucharest Conventions

Develop List of  Compliance Indicators in support of indicator-based reporting under the Bucharest Convention in cooperation with the Partner Organizations and BSC Advisory Groups

Promotion of the newly-proposed indicators at the  level of the BSC

August 2013 – January 2014

February – June 2014

2.2

Support to the harmonization of national policies, including common understanding of water quality/GES, promotion

Consultation with experts on the needs in harmonization. Further development of the WQ/GES Classification Methodology and organization of a workshop to discuss it together with the proposed revisions of the Monitoring Programmes.

Finalization of the WQ/GES Classification  Methodology  and promotion at the level of the BSC for adoption

September 2013 - April 2014

October 2014

PA3 Development of cost-effective and harmonised biological and chemical monitoring programmes in accordance with reporting obligations under multilateral environmental agreements, the WFD and the MSFD

3.1

Revision of National and Regional Monitoring Programs (based on the reporting needs, promotion of operational monitoring, cost-effectiveness, etc.)

Prepare 'optimistic' and 'realistic' scenarios for the revision of BSIMAP and submit to UNDP

Provide comments on the draft revised monitoring programmes, prepared by SOI

November 2013 – March 2014

June 2014

3.2

Further development of biological monitoring guidelines

Contribute to drafting of guidelines for biological monitoring and participation in workshop organization related to preparation of them

May  - October 2014

3.4

Promotion of the biological monitoring guidelines

Promotion of the biological monitoring guidelines at the level of the BSC for adoption

October 2014

PA4 Assessment of needs regarding laboratory infrastructure, equipment, and training

4.2

Assessment of the availability and needs, elaboration of recommendations for sharing of infrastructure/equipment/vessels and trainings (Chapters of the Diagnostic Report)

Contribute to the report on assessment needs in infrastructure/vessels/ equipment/

December 2013

PA5 Elaboration and implementation of a first training programme on monitoring methods and quality assurance adhering to ISO 17025 standard

5.1

Analysis of the needs (specifically for monitoring methods and QA/QC), preparation of program

Contribute to preparation of a Training Programme

December 2013 – January 2014

5.2

Preparation of materials, revision/elaboration of guidelines,  organization of trainings/workshops

Participate in the organization of harmonization workshops/trainings

February 2014 - October 2014

PA6 Prepare the methodology for Joint Black Sea Surveys

6.1

Survey methodology (based on the results of revision of monitoring programs

Contribute to preparation of a Joint Survey Methodology  which first draft will be prepared by SIO-RAS

December 2013 – September 2014

6.2

Technical support to survey’s organization planned under the projects MISIS, PERSEUS and/or COCONET

Technical support to the survey’s (field work) organization planned under the projects MISIS, PERSEUS and/or  COCONET)

October 2013 – December 2014

PA7 Development of the web-based Black Sea Water Quality Database prototype

7.1

Further development of BSIS components and functionalities as web services

Design and develop the web portal of BSIS, supported by an online CMS and style sheets. Participate in the WQ database development.

August 2013 – November 2014

7.2

Investigating the possibilities for interaction between the central Black Sea Water Quality (WQ) Database and other Black Sea regional data management infrastructures (e.g. created under EmodNET, SeaDataNet, MONINFO), as well as the interoperability with the WISE-Marine (EEA)  and SEIS

Compilation of experts opinion investigating the possibilities for interaction between the central BS Water Quality Database and other BS regional data management infrastructures (under EmodNET, SeaDataNet), as well as the interoperability with the WISE-Marine (EEA) and SEIS. Conduct 'interoperability" analysis. Preparation of Concept on the long term maintenance of BSIS .

September 2013 – December 2014

PA8 Dissemination of Knowledge and Best Practices, Public Awareness and Visibility

8.1

Promotion of the project, visibility of EC support, ownership development

Provide UNDP with information  on the project implementation by BSC PS for the web-site nourishing, brochure, press releases, newsletters

August 2013 – December 2014

8.2

Raising  awareness

Participate in events  conducted by EMBLAS 

December 2013 - December 2014

8.3

Dissemination of Project results, visibility of Project efforts

Disseminate project results among national stakeholders

December 2013 - December 2014

PA9

Management of the project

Submit to UNDP in a timely manner information on the project implementation and expenditures so that the progress, interim and final reports are prepared in due time.

August 2013 – December 2014

Project exit strategy

December 2014