Scientists in Burgas and Edirne will fight plastic pollution in the Black Sea

Scientific centres in Burgas and Edirne to study and monitor the ecological status of local ecosystems will fight against plastic pollution in the Black Sea.  The strategic project "Cross-border regions cooperate for BLUE GROWTH" is implemented by the Burgas University "Prof.  Dr. Asen Zlatarov” and Trakia University - Edirne with funding from the Interreg - IPA Bulgaria - Turkey 2014-2020 programme managed by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works. 

The progress of the project was presented during the seventh meeting of the Joint Monitoring Committee of the cross-border programme, which took place online.  It was chaired by the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Denitsa Nikolova and Mr. Bulent Özcan - Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey.  Ms Magali Lenoel from DG Regional and Urban Policy of the European Commission also took part in the event.

Various laboratories will be set up in the centres - for plastic water pollution analysis, aquatic ecosystem analysis and modelling, aquaculture and biotechnology laboratories - to support the establishment of marine industries as drivers of the European economy, through the most appropriate combination of climatic, oceanographic, economic, cultural and social factors.  They will help to further enrich the methodology for applied research and would ensure an even more comprehensive analysis, including of aspects of diffuse pollution of the aquatic system.

"This is our most significant investment to date as a contribution to the implementation of the EU's Blue Growth policy with a focus on sustainable management of natural resources in the Black Sea region, and for the first time we are reaching out directly to academia and mobilising their expertise to look for practical solutions and models for the responsible use of resources in the region," said Deputy Minister Nikolova.

The contract for the construction of the centres was signed in October this year and the investment amounts to nearly BGN 6.6 million, allocated under the cross-border cooperation programme.

During the meeting, Deputy Minister Nikolova informed that, to date, the programme between Bulgaria and Turkey is being implemented at a very good pace, with more than 58 million BGN invested in the border region in the form of subsidy contracts for projects on tourism development, environmental protection, cultural exchange, etc. BGN 24 million have already been disbursed to project implementers. "Despite the difficulties related to the pandemic situation due to COVID-19, we have not had any delayed payment or document to our beneficiaries, which shows that the programme is a predictable and reliable partner. Thus the beneficiaries have the guarantee that despite the current circumstances the project cycle is proceeding without interruptions," said Deputy Minister Nikolova.