International Centre for Black Sea Studies

07/09/2026

📣 is pleased to join the 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐁𝐒𝐄𝐂 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩-𝐢𝐧-𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 and the BSEC family, in a dedicated booth at the 𝟗𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐤𝐢 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫!

📍Visit us at 𝐏𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟏𝟑, 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟏𝟒 to learn more about our work, initiatives and synergies across the Black Sea region and beyond.

𝑾𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖!

27/08/2026

📢 Proud to be part of a global movement co-designing a shared future for Gender Equality!

📣 UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network - Youth recently brought together more than 145 youth from 70+ countries across four regions to reflect, challenge, and reimagine what gender equality looks like.

📌 In this context, Junior Project Manager, Ms. Elpida Besi, participated in the Europe regional consultations, sharing information and insights on gender equality from the wider Black Sea region.

✅ The outcome of the consultations is a powerful set of insights from A Youth Vision for the World's Future ( ), SDSN Youth's new initiative to centre youth voices in shaping policy recommendations for a more sustainable and equitable world.

👉 Explore the first set of insights below, and keep an eye out for the recommendations brief releasing later this year ⬇️

🔗 Insights from the Regional Consultations on Gender Equality: A Youth Vision of the World’s Future: https://www.unsdsn.org/news/insights-from-the-regional-consultations-on-gender-equality-a-youth-vision-of-the-world-s-future/

27/08/2026

The ICBSS congratulates 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒐𝒗𝒂 🇲🇩 on the occasion of its 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒚 (27 August), and expresses its warmest wishes to the 𝑴𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒏 people!

24/08/2026

📑 NEW POLICY BRIEF!

On 24 August 2026, the published a new Policy Brief, titled Corridors of Interdependence: Rethinking Black Sea-Balkans and Middle East Connectivity in an Era of Chokepoint Vulnerability written by Ms. Noor Omer, Research Specialist at iNNOV8 Research Center.

The Policy Brief argues that the 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis has created a historic opening to redesign the relationship between Europe's South-Eastern Energy Corridor and the Middle East through a structured, mutual, and resilient partnership. Drawing on corridor economics, energy security and the emerging policy frameworks of the EU Black Sea Strategy adopted in May 2025, the Policy Brief maps three interconnected domains and proposes a consolidated policy framework for a Black Sea-Middle East strategic convergence.

📌 This is the 33rd publication under the Policy Briefs series issued by the ICBSS since 2006, focusing on a wide spectrum of topics related to the wider region.

👉 Read the full Policy Brief here:
https://icbss.org/new-policy-brief-corridors-of-interdependence-rethinking-black-sea-balkans-and-middle-east-connectivity-in-an-era-of-chokepoint-vulnerability/

📢 Open Call for Papers:
https://icbss.org/call-for-papers/

On 24 August 2026, the ICBSS published Policy Brief 33, titled “Corridors of Interdependence: Rethinking Black Sea-Balkans and Middle East Connectivity in an Era of Chokepoint Vulnerability” by Ms. Noor Omer, Research Specialist at iNNOV8 Research Center.

24/08/2026

The ICBSS congratulates 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 🇺🇦 on the occasion of its 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 (24 August), and expresses its warmest wishes to the 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 people!

20/07/2026

📣 Did you know that the rate for persons with disabilities across the countries is significantly higher than the total unemployment rate?

The has just published a set of with data on unemployment across the 13 BSEC countries, focusing on two indicators of the Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

🔎 More at:
https://icbss.org/drops-of-knowledge-unemployment-in-the-wider-black-sea-region/

The ICBSS publishes a set of infographics with data on unemployment indicators across the 13 BSEC countries.

14/07/2026

📑 NEW RESEARCH PAPER!

On 14 July 2026, the published a new Research Paper, titled “𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐚𝐫”, written by Dr. Ella Libanova, Professor, Mykhailo Ptukha Institute for Demography and Quality of Life Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of .

👉 The paper provides insights into challenges related to the demographic losses caused by the war and attempts to answer two major questions: what are Ukraine's demographic losses caused by the war, and how we can separate the impact of the war from general trends in natural population movement and emigration.

This is the third publication of the series of Research Papers issued by the ICBSS since 2018, focusing on a wide spectrum of topics related to the wider region.

📌 Read the Research Paper here:
https://icbss.org/new-research-paper-ukraine-the-demographic-cost-of-war/

📢 Open Call for Papers:
https://icbss.org/call-for-papers/

On 14 July 2026, the ICBSS published a new Research Paper titled “Ukraine: The Demographic Cost of War”, by Dr. Ella Libanova, Professor at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

13/07/2026

𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒!

On 10 July 2026, the Director General, Mr. Georgios Mitrakos, participated at the online expert meeting on the topic “The EU and Asian States: Towards a Sustainable Cooperation. Opportunities for Romania”, organised by the Institutul European din România - European Institute of Romania.

🔎 https://icbss.org/news-participation-of-icbss-director-general-at-the-online-expert-meeting-the-eu-and-asian-states-towards-a-sustainable-cooperation-opportunities-for-romania/

On 10 July 2026, ICBSS Director General, Mr. Georgios Mitrakos, participated at the online expert meeting “The EU and Asian States: Towards a Sustainable Cooperation. Opportunities for Romania”, organised by the European Institute of Romania (EIR).

13/07/2026

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐈𝐂𝐁𝐒𝐒 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
‘𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐲𝐞𝐬. 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.’
📢 WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

The public has spoken!
It’s time to announce the winners of the 2026 ICBSS Photo Competition '𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐲𝐞𝐬. 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.'!

Drumroll, please! 🥁
Are you ready?
Here they are, ranked according to the number of votes received 👇

"In Between" – 60 votes
"Kalenin insanları (people of Kale)" – 50 votes
"The Waterfall" – 29 votes
"Plaka Bridge: A landmark of resilience" – 20 votes
"Poetry on the Trail" – 20 votes
"Reflections" – 19 votes
"Easter Eggs" – 18 votes
"Spring sunset in Greece" – 17 votes
"An Eternal Symphony" – 15 votes
"Above Heaven" – 14 votes
"Karavi” – 14 votes
"Spring in Avlon" – 13 votes

🏆 Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 ICBSS Photo Competition!
🙏 A big “Thank You” to everyone who took part in the public voting and supported the competition by choosing their favourite photos.
👏 Special Thanks to all of the participants, either amateurs or professionals, whether winners or not, who shared with us a glimpse of the traditions, landscapes, and stories that make the cultural heritage of the wider Black Sea region so rich and diverse.

🔎 https://icbss.org/icbss-photo-competition-2026/

10/07/2026

🗞️ Project News!

On 10 July 2026 Toural Project experts joined the macro-regional conference of the project "Features of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural and Natural Heritage in Conditions of Military Action", and shared the results and plans of the project for the future.

📌 The leads WP2 on Cultural and Creative Tourism (CCT) Analysis & Policy Pathways aiming at stakeholders' engagement and co-creation of policies and business models.

Дорогі друзі, вже завтра, 10 липня о 10 годині почнеться наша макрорегіональна конференція проєкту "Особливості збереження та відновлення культурної та природної спадщини в умовах воєнних дій".
Ми будемо говорити про те, як українським громадам вдається не просто виживати в часи воєнного вторгнення. Навіть знаходити в собі сили жити сьогоденням та бачити майбутнє своїх громад через призму туризму та збереження природної, культурної спадщини.

Нашими гостями будуть:
- Наталія Софієнко миколаївська ольвієзнавиця;
- Наталія Ємельянцева - людина, яка в найтяжчі часи створює туристичне місце, де зберігаються українські традиції;
- Вікторія Петренко - керівниця НПП «Білобережжя Святослава", яка поділиться досвідом роботи і збереження довкілля в умаовах воєнних дій;
- Роксана Якоб (Румунія) - експертка партнерської організації з Румунії, яка розповість про пілотний регіон Дельту Дунаю;
- Марія Душевич (Хорватія) - експертка партнерської організації з Хорватії, яка розповість про пілотний регіон селище Шимуні (острів Паг);
- представники молодіжної ради Куцурубської територіальної громади;
- експерти нашої команди проєкту, які поділяться результатами та планами проєкту на майбутнє.

Конференція проходитиме в змішаному форматі з трансляцією на офіційній фейсбук-сторінці Національний екологічний центр України.

Dear friends, tomorrow at 10 a.m. our macro-regional conference of the project "Features of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural and Natural Heritage in Conditions of Military Action" will begin.
We will talk about how Ukrainian communities manage not only to survive during times of military invasion. Even to find the strength to live in the present and see the future of their communities through the prism of tourism and the preservation of natural and cultural heritage.
Our guests will be:
- Natalia Sofienko, a Mykolaiv oliviologist;
- Natalia Yemelyantseva - a person who, in the most difficult times, creates a tourist destination where Ukrainian traditions are preserved;
- Viktoriya Petrenko - head of the NPP "Beloberezhya Sviatoslava", who will share her experience of work and environmental preservation in the context of military operations;
- Roxana Jacob (Romania) - expert of a partner organization from Romania, who will talk about the pilot region of the Danube Delta;
- Marija Dušević (Croatia) - expert of a partner organization from Croatia, who will talk about the pilot region of the village of Šimuni (Pag Island);
- representatives of the youth council of the Kutsurubsk Territorial Community;
- experts of our project team, who will share the results and plans of the project for the future.

The conference will be held in a mixed format with a broadcast on the official page of the National Ecological Center of Ukraine.

Toural ProjectНаціональний екологічний центр УкраїниКінбурн