Round Table Conference on the Territorial Cooperation in the Black Sea Region

Monday, 18 December 2017 17:15

Round Table Conference on the Territorial Cooperation in the Black Sea Region organized by the Bulgarian Regional Science Association (BRSA) was held at the UNWE, institutional member of the Association. In the Conference took part Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Statty Stattev, Rector of UNWE, Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Stanka Tonkova, Chairwoman of BRSA, Prof. Dr. Valenitin Goev, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Stela Raleva, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Milanka Slavova, Vice Rectors of UNWE, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Igor Damyanov, Dean of the International Economics and Politics Faculty, Ambassador Valentin Radomirsky, scientists, diplomats and students. 

Assoc. Prof. Damyanov, Assoc. Prof. Slavova, Assoc. Prof. Raleva, Prof. Stattev, Prof. Tonkova, Prof. Goev, Ambassador Radomirsky (from the right to the left)

Prof. Tonkova made an assessment of the one-year work of BRSA, the elaboration of programme for its development till 2020, its membership in the European Regional Science Association (ERSA) and in the Regional Science Association International as well as the organization of scientific forums devoted to the cooperation in the Black Sea Region, Danube Region and West Balkans Region. Three major reasons about the topic of the Round Table Conference were grounded by the Chairwoman of BRSA: the 25th anniversary of foundation of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), new risks and challenges to the regional security in the region and the Black Sea Basin Programme 2014-2020 - part of European Union's Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) under its European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI). Our objective is to assist for the prosperity of the region with many cross points in the past and present, pointed out Prof. Tonkova. 

In the Large Conference Hall

The university structures work well but we should obtain cross-over between their policies, outlined Prof. Stattev and examined the challenges during the coming 2018. The Rector pointed out that during his recent official visit to Shanghai it had been concluded an Agreement of Cooperation between the UNWE and the Shanghai Jiao Tong University including the functioning of Chinese Bulgarian Center seated in Shanghai and its affiliate at the UNWE as Coordinator of relations with the Bulgarian universities. Our university was given a mandate to be the initiator for the establishment of Interuniversity Network of all higher schools and scientific organizations in the format 16+1. The project will be started in May 2018 during a Forum at the UNWE. 

Prof. Stattev and Prof. Tonkova

So we should reconsider how the Black Sea Region could enter the format 16+1, commented Prof. Stattev having in mind the fact that most of the ten countries in the Region are part of the format. In that relation the Rector emphasized also on the activity of the Center for Balkan Studies of UNWE as well as the participation of our university in the new programme schemes of the European Group for Territorial Cooperation HELICAS established to assist the cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation in Europe. The Rector expressed his hope in the effective work of the Round Table Conference and presentation of its results to all interested parties. 

Participants in the Round Table Conference

Prof. Dr. Dinko Dinkov, Director of the Center for Balkan Studies commented the importance of the Black Sea Region in the economic, geostrategic and political aspect as he examined the understanding of its identity, its new role in the international relations structures, regional and out-of-region interest, unsolved issues, conflicts in that region of the world, etc. 

Prof. Dinko Dinkov (on the right) and Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov

Ambassador Valentin Radomirsky, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Milanka Slavova, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Dean of the Economics of Infrastructure Faculty and Head of the National and Regional Security Department, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kosyo Stoychev, Head of the Regional and Political Geography Department of St. Climent Ohridski University of Sofia were among the lecturers in the Round Table Conference which ended with discussion. 

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