BBSEA strengthens coordination with Türkiye as project activities move into implementation

The Blueing the Black Sea (BBSEA) GEF Regional Project continues to strengthen cooperation with national counterparts as activities move from planning into implementation.

During a recent visit to Türkiye, BBSEA Programme Manager Glenn Pearce-Oroz met with representatives of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change to review progress across key areas of the project and discuss priorities for the months ahead.

The meeting covered ongoing policy and capacity-building activities, including the Ministry’s interest in further technical support related to the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD).

The discussion also focused on the BBSEA Eco-Innovation Challenge, which is now entering an important implementation and acceleration phase. Participants reviewed the progress of the Turkish innovators and discussed opportunities to strengthen connections between the winning teams, relevant government institutions and potential local partners.

Türkiye will also participate in the BBSEA Regional Learning Workshop in Sofia on 27–28 October, which will bring together government representatives and technical experts from Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Türkiye and Ukraine to exchange experiences and lessons from national-level work. The workshop will be followed by the next Regional Steering Committee meeting on 29 October, providing another opportunity to review progress and coordinate the project’s next steps.

Regular dialogue with national counterparts remains central to BBSEA’s approach, helping ensure that technical assistance, investment planning and innovative solutions respond to national priorities while contributing to the shared regional goal of reducing pollution in the Black Sea.