EMD IN MY COUNTRY – Strengthening Economic Alliances in the wider Black Sea region Through International Engagement & Shipping

10:00-11:00 EEST | Opening Session

• Welcome address by Dr Maria B. LEKAKOU, Professor in Maritime Economics, Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport, School of Business, University of the Aegean (Greece)
• “The maritime legacy of Chios Island and the importance of shipping for the development and growth of the wider Black Sea region”, by Dr Gelina HARLAFTIS, Director of Institute for Mediterranean Studies of the Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas (IMS-FORTH), Professor of Maritime History, Department of History and Archeology, Faculty of Letters, University of Crete (Greece)
• “Collective Commitment in the Black Sea Region”, by Mrs Rositsa STOEVA, National Coordinator of the Bulgarian BSEC Chairmanship-in-Office (July-December 2025), Head of Development Cooperation

Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria

11:00-11:30 Coffee break

11:30-13:30 EEST | State of play, challenges and cooperation initiatives at regional, European, and international levels

Moderated by Mr Stavros KALOGNOMOS, PhD Candidate, Researcher, Research in Shipping and Ports Laboratory (RE.SHI.P.), Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport, School of Business, University of the Aegean (Greece) 

Keynote speaker: “Port cities and coastal communities”, by Dr Maciej KOWALEWSKI, Associate Professor,

University of Szczecin/UNESCO Chair for Social Sustainability (Poland), RethinkBlue COST Action 

• “Blue economy as a driver for development and innovation for coastal communities”, by Ms Georgia CHANTZI, Research and Policy Development Manager, International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS)
• “More sustainable development of Port Cities, a global bet?”, by Dr José SÁNCHEZ, Director of Agenda AIVP 2030, Projects and Content, International Association Cities & Ports (AIVP)
• “Blue Economy and Regional Cooperation Strategies in Samsun”, by Mr Necmi ÇAMAŞ, Deputy Secretary General of the Samsun Metropolitan Municipality (Türkiye)
• “The role of universities alliances in better responding to the societal and environmental challenges faced by island and coastal communities”, by Professor Milen BALTOV, PhD – Rector of Burgas Free 
• “The role of universities alliances in better responding to the societal and environmental challenges faced by island and coastal communities”, by Professor Milen BALTOV, PhD – Rector of Burgas Free University (Bulg aria), member of the European University of Islands, Ports and Coastal Territories (EUNICOast) Alliance
• “The role of universities alliances in better responding to the societal and environmental challenges faced by island and coastal communities”, by Professor Milen BALTOV, PhD – Rector of Burgas Free University (Bulgaria), member of the European University of Islands, Ports and Coastal Territories (EUNICOast) Alliance
• Open discussion with participants

Break until 15:00 EEST

15:00-17:30 EEST | EU framework, and financial instruments in the wider Black Sea region and how the different stakeholders could benefit from them

Moderated by Dr Petros PALLIS, Assoc. Prof. in Maritime and Ports Economics and Strategy,  Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport, University of the Aegean (Greece)  

Keynote speaker: Ms Mihaela MIREA, Black Sea Assistance Mechanism (BSAM) Coordinator

• “The World Bank’s Blueing the Black Sea Program (BBSEA)”, by Ms Tsitsino CHKADUA, Programme Management Senior Officer, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
• Mr Leonid SIDORENKO, Director, General Industries, Transport and Tourism I, Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB)
• Ms Linn SÖDERPALM, Policy Advisor, Environment, Safety and Taxation, European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA)
• Mr Petros KOKKALIS, Member of the European Parliament (2019-2024)
• Thanos PALLIS, JMC in European port policy, University of Piraeus (Greece), Challenges of energy transition in port city territories, PACT COST Action

Open discussion with participants

• Conclusions by the moderator

End of the EMD hybrid event in Chios