European Parliament adopts resolution on EU Strategy for Black Sea

PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Parliament approved a resolution on an EU Strategy for the Black Sea, with the main emphasis put on energy and security.

At a plenary session in Strasbourg, parliamentarians overwhelmingly approved a report by MEP Traian Ungureanu, which outlined the main provisions of the strategy.

The main innovation will be the creation of a specific budget line for the Black Sea Strategy and the increase in human resources for its implementation.

The European Parliament expressed concern about the agreement between Ukraine and Russia to extend the stationing of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, kyivpost reported.

The report notes that the EU, in its Black Sea policy, should encourage the priority financing of small-scale cross-border cooperation projects. Other priorities include the stabilization of the situation in the region, respect for human rights, migration management, the improvement of energy security, the environment, as well as social and economic development.

The European Parliament also "sees Turkey and Russia as partners which should ideally be properly involved in Black Sea regional cooperation."

The strategy for the Black Sea region "comprises the EU Member States Bulgaria, Greece and Romania, the candidate country Turkey and the ENP partners Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, as well as the Russian Federation as a strategic partner."

Among the main challenges facing the region are "protracted conflicts, displaced populations, bilateral disputes, closed borders and strategic rivalries leading to militarization and proliferation of arms, weak institutions and governance and the deterioration of democratic rule, cross-border crime and trafficking, border and movement management, and poor maritime security and safety."