BLACK SEA BEYWATCH “Black Sea Blue Economy - Youth and Women Watch” October 20

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EMD in My Country Webinar
BLACK SEA BEYWATCH
Black Sea Blue Economy - Youth and Women Watch
Tuesday, 20 October 2026 | 10.00 - 16.30 EEST

DRAFT AGENDA | REGISTER HERE

In the framework of the European Maritime Day (EMD) in My Country, the Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport of the University of the Aegean under the coordination of Dr Maria B. LEKAKOU, and in cooperation with the International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS), is organising the BLACK SEA BEYWATCH “Black Sea Blue Economy - Youth and Women Watch” event, to be held online, on Tuesday 20 October 2026, at 10:00 - 16:30 EEST.

This one-day online conference will build on the results of the SEA (CI)-TIES (Strengthening Economic Alliances in the wider Black Sea region Through International Engagement & Shipping) EMD IN MY COUNTRY 2025 event, focusing on women, youth, city diplomacy, skills, and new technologies in the framework of the port cities ecosystems.


About the conference

EMD in My Country events are grassroots initiatives, organised by local actors all around the EU and its neighbourhood countries promoting ocean literacy, ocean activism and awareness about sustainable blue economy, with a focus on engaging with the public, including younger audiences, through interactive projects, demonstrating the significance of the ocean and of the economic activities around it in the lives of citizens and coastal communities. These initiatives aim to raise awareness on the importance of the ocean and its impact on our lives and well-being, promote a deeper understanding of the Blue Economy and all the social and economic aspects related to it, and highlight the central role of seas and ocean for the EU’s coastal communities and economies.

The BLACK SEA BEYWATCH “Black Sea Blue Economy - Youth and Women Watch” virtual event is organised within the framework of the Hellenic BSEC Chairmanship-in-Office (1.7 - 31.12.2026).


Scope and Objectives

The online conference will open with an introduction of the latest developments in the blue economy at EU and wider Black Sea regional levels, and will comprise three sessions:
• The first session will focus on the importance of city diplomacy in blue economy and the added value of women in different levels of diplomacy, while highlighting the priorities of the new EU Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030, in particular Roadmap Principle 7.
• The second session will analyse emerging skills and new trends that will enable students and young professionals to understand the impact of Blue Economy so as to become more competitive in the job market.
• The third session will explore how to embrace technological advancement in energy transition while connecting new technologies to the service of the port cities’ ecosystems.

Throughout the event, the organisers will acknowledge relevant EU-funded projects, as well as the research and policy work of the attending organisations, and the outcomes of the workshops organised by the University of the Aegean in the framework of the EMD 2026, in Limassol.

Finally, the organisers along with representatives from the Blue Commission, and a student-led collaborative group within the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA), will elaborate a document of recommendations, based on the outcomes of the conference, that will be used by ERUA for its research activities and to encourage partnerships for different EU calls for proposals.

The webinar will take place on Tuesday 20 October 2026, from 10:00 to 16:30 EEST (09:00 AM CEST), online only.
The event’s working language will be English. The event will be held online only, via Zoom. For more information, visit here.


About the ICBSS: The International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS) was founded in 1998 as a non-profit organisation. It has since fulfilled a dual function. On the one hand, it is an independent research and training institution focusing on the wider Black Sea region. On the other hand, it is a related body of the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) and serves as its think-tank. Thus, the ICBSS pursues applied, policy-oriented research, promotes knowledge on the Black Sea region both within and outside its boundaries, and offers policy advice with the aim to foster multilateral cooperation among the BSEC member states as well as with their international partners.

International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS)
19-21 Arachovis Str. & Ippokratous, 10680, Athens, Greece
Tel.: +30 210 324 2321-2 | Email: icbss@icbss.org | Website: http://www.icbss.org
Director General: Mr. Georgios Mitrakos