MCB hosted BLUEDIAL CONNECT 2026 - the regional stakeholder event within BluDial project - on 22 Oct 2026

From Dialogue to Action: What Blue Economy Stakeholders Want for the Black Sea Region

On 22 October 2026, Marine Cluster Bulgaria hosted BLUEDIAL CONNECT 2026 in Varna, a regional stakeholder event organised within the framework of the BlueDial project, implemented under the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme 2021–2027 and co-funded by the European Union.

The event brought together representatives of the business community, public authorities, industry associations, civil society organisations and academia to identify practical solutions for strengthening blue economy governance and supporting sustainable development in Bulgaria and across the Black Sea Basin.

Turning International Good Practices into Actionable Solutions

The first part of the event focused on stakeholder dialogue and opportunities to improve the governance of the blue economy.

Participants were introduced to the key challenges identified in the BlueDial state-of-play report, alongside good practices from 12 countries and regions. Burgas Municipality also presented its integrated approach to promoting sustainable blue growth.

A highlight of the programme was an interactive voting session, during which participants assessed which international governance models and policy solutions could be most effectively adapted to the Bulgarian and wider Black Sea context.

What Did Stakeholders Prioritise?

The results revealed several clear priorities:

• 74% – Blue Skills and Employment. The Barcelona model received the strongest support, particularly its focus on career guidance, short certification courses and job-matching opportunities for blue economy professions.

• 68% – Multi-level Governance. Participants favoured the German approach, promoting shared responsibility between national authorities, regional administrations and industry, aligned around common strategic objectives.

• 63% – Stakeholder Participation. The Estonian model, which enables businesses, civil society and other stakeholders to contribute to policy development before final decisions are taken, emerged as another leading preference.

• 58% – Science–Business Cooperation. The Norwegian approach to public support for research and innovation, including pilot projects and national testing facilities, received substantial backing.

• 58% – Marine Environmental Protection. Participants supported Morocco's approach to establishing new marine protected areas through co-management with fishing communities, combined with coastal ecosystem restoration.

• 53% – From Strategy to Implementation. The Portuguese model of a unified national blue economy strategy supported by a concrete, measurable action plan was also identified as a relevant solution.

Opinions were evenly divided on maritime spatial planning and permitting procedures, highlighting the need for further stakeholder dialogue and a more detailed assessment of possible approaches.

Participants could select more than one solution for each challenge. Percentages represent the share of respondents who selected each option.

These findings will contribute to the development of the BlueDial joint roadmap of policy recommendations, aimed at strengthening coordination and governance of the blue economy across the Black Sea Basin.

Maritime Industry Developments and Emerging Challenges

The second part of BLUEDIAL CONNECT 2026 focused on practical developments and upcoming changes affecting the maritime sector.

Capt. Dr Milen Todorov and Capt. Petar Petrov from the Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company presented ongoing port digitalisation efforts and the changes associated with the introduction of the Port Community System (PCS), scheduled for 1 January 2027.

Stefan Stanoykov, Chair of the Board of the Bulgarian Association of Ship Brokers and Agents (BASBA), discussed current trends in ship brokerage and agency services, as well as opportunities to strengthen Bulgaria's position in the international maritime market.

Georgi Iliev, representing the Bulgarian Yachting Association, explored emerging professions and the skills needed to support the future development of the yachting and wider maritime sectors.

The event concluded with a networking session, providing opportunities to continue discussions, exchange perspectives and explore potential cooperation.

From Stakeholder Dialogue to Coordinated Action

BLUEDIAL CONNECT 2026 demonstrated that blue economy stakeholders share a clear set of expectations: stronger institutional coordination, meaningful business participation in policymaking, greater investment in skills and innovation, and practical mechanisms for translating strategic priorities into measurable results.

By gathering these perspectives, the BlueDial project takes another step towards developing joint policy recommendations for more coordinated, inclusive and sustainable blue economy governance in the Black Sea Basin.

Marine Cluster Bulgaria extends its sincere appreciation to all speakers, partners and participants for their valuable contributions and commitment to shaping the future of the region's blue economy.

The BlueDial project is implemented under the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme 2021–2027 and co-funded by the European Union.