Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The Black Sea region is of great strategic importance to the European Union due to the link between Central Asia and Europe, and the importance of security, trade, and energy.
Countries in the region are also working to strengthen their relations with the European Union. "Once again, we are seeing geopolitical shifts." According to a statement issued by the office of the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaya Kallas, the statement also quoted the European official as saying, "Ukraine and Moldova are moving towards EU accession, as is Georgia, if it returns to the accession process. Turkey is an important strategic partner for the EU and a candidate country for accession.
But the Russian war is weakening the region's potential. Airspace violations and repeated attacks on ports and shipping lanes highlight this reality.
With regard to security, our focus is on three priorities:
First, we propose the establishment of a Black Sea Maritime Security Centre. This centre will serve as Europe's early warning system in the Black Sea. It will enhance situational awareness and help protect critical infrastructure, such as offshore facilities and submarine cables. The centre could also help monitor any peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. In parallel, we will invest more in mine clearance, which also represents a significant threat in the Black Sea. Programs such as the EU Marine Resources, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund can help identify the threat posed by mines.
Second, military mobility. We propose Additional improvements to regional ports, railways, roads, and airports to handle heavy military equipment will help ensure that forces are where they are needed, at the right time. Accelerating the arrival of equipment to the region strengthens deterrence and also supports NATO. Alongside these improvements, we want to improve monitoring of foreign owners at key ports and facilities.
The third point concerns hybrid threats. The Black Sea region is a key target for hybrid action. The EU aims to strengthen cooperation to combat cyberattacks, disinformation, and other hostile actions. We will invest in artificial intelligence to combat disinformation, enhance media awareness, and develop fact-checking networks. Once again, Black Sea security is also vital to European security.