European Parliament Prepares Proposals for Changes to EU's Black Sea Strategy

The European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs on Tuesday discussed a draft report containing proposals for changes to the EU’s Black Sea Strategy. There is a need for…

The European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs on Tuesday discussed a draft report containing proposals for changes to the EU’s Black Sea Strategy. There is a need for a permanent European presence in the Black Sea region - military, economic and cultural - said rapporteur Helmut Brandstatter (Renew Europe, Austria), summarizing the main objectives. MEP Andrey Kovatchev (GERB/EPP), who serves as shadow rapporteur, expressed disappointment at the lack of progress on the strategy over the past nearly two decades.

He noted that recent developments provide grounds for further action, including the development of counter-drone capabilities and other infrastructure. The Black Sea Monitoring Centre could be developed into a European agency with expanded powers, Kovatchev proposed. According to him, closer cooperation is needed in countering drones, strengthening air defence and protecting underwater infrastructure, in close coordination with NATO. He called for all available NATO and EU capabilities to be used to prevent potential future attacks in the Black Sea region.

MEP Stanislav Stoyanov (Europe of Sovereign Nations/Vazrazhdane) noted that the Black Sea had remained outside the EU’s main priorities for many years. Active diplomatic efforts are needed to restore peace and security, without which freedom of navigation cannot be guaranteed, he said. “We need a European policy that delivers peace, security and tangible economic benefits,” Stoyanov added.

Speaking on behalf of the European External Action Service, expert Elise Abat said that threats in the Black Sea require a coordinated European response, in cooperation with NATO. She added that the EU is convening a second ministerial meeting on Black Sea security on November 16, alongside the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.

Abat further explained that the meeting will be chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, together with European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Sikela. Foreign ministers from EU member states, as well as Ukraine, Turkiye and Moldova, will participate. The European Parliament is expected to vote on the report on January 14 next year.