On 25 June 1992, the Heads of State and Government of eleven countries signed in Istanbul the Summit Declaration and the Bosphorus Statement giving birth to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). It came into existence as a unique and promising model of multilateral political and economic initiative aimed at fostering interaction and harmony among the Member States, as well as to ensure peace, stability and prosperity encouraging friendly and good-neighbourly relations in the Black Sea region.

With the entry into force of its Charter on 1 May 1999, BSEC acquired international legal identity and was transformed into a full-fledged regional economic organization : Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. With the accession of Serbia and Montenegro in April 2004, the Organization’s Member States increased to twelve.

The BSEC Headquarters - the Permanent International Secretariat of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC PERMIS) - was established in March 1994 in Istanbul.

It is related to the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, an international financial institution based in Thessaloniki.

Membership

██ BSEC member states ██ BSEC observer states

Founding members are:

•  Albania
•  Armenia
•  Azerbaijan
•  Bulgaria
•  Georgia
•  Greece
•  Moldova
•  Romania
•  Russia
•  Turkey
•  Ukraine

Later members: Image File history File links Flag_of_Albania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Armenia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Azerbaijan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Bulgaria_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Georgia_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Greece. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Moldova. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Romania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Turkey. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ukraine. ...

•  Serbia (joined April 2004 as SiM)

Black Sea Economic Cooperation (zoom) ██ members ██ observers

As seen above, membership has not been restricted to countries which have access to the Black Sea. Image File history File links Flag_of_Serbia_(state)_(bordered). ... Motto: none Anthem: Bože pravde (English: God of Justice) Capital Belgrade Largest city Belgrade Official language(s) Serbian1 Government Republic  - President Boris Tadić  - Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica Formation and independence    - Formation of Serbia 814   - Formation of the Serbian Empire 1345   - Independence from the Ottoman Empire July 13, 1878... Motto: none Anthem: Hej Sloveni Capital Belgrade (Executive and Legislative) Podgorica (Judicial) Largest city Belgrade Official language(s) Serbian1 Government President Svetozar Marović Reconstituted From FRY Dissolved February 4, 2003 June 5, 2006 Area    - Total 102,350 km² (105th)   39,518 sq mi   - Water (%) 0. ... Map of the Black Sea. ...

Observer nations are the following:

•  Belarus
•  Croatia
•  Czech Republic
•  France
•  Germany
•  Israel
•  Italy
•  Poland
•  Slovakia
•  Tunisia
•  United States

Later observers: Image File history File links Flag_of_Belarus. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Croatia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Poland_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Slovakia_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Tunisia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_States. ...

•  Austria
•  Egypt

Observer organizations are the: Image File history File links Flag_of_Austria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Egypt. ...

• International Black Sea Club
• Energy Charter Secretariat
• Black Sea Commission

The chairmanship is currently held by the Russian Federation (May 2006 - October 2006). 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe (SP for SEE)
• Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP)
• Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA)
• Central European Initiative (CEI)
• Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI)
• Black Sea Forum (BSF)
• Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB)

Stability Pact member states Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe is an institution aimed at strengthening peace, democracy, human rights and economy in the countries of South Eastern Europe. ... Southeast European Cooperation Process member states The South East European Co-operation Process (SEECP) was launched on Bulgarias initiative in 1996. ...  member states  former member states  prospective member states The Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) is a trade agreement between Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and the Republic of Macedonia. ... The Central European Initiative or CEI, is a cultural and scientific international cooperative of at present 17 countries, founded in 1991/92 as a successor of the Pentagonale group1. ... Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) In the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI), Romania has had an opportunity to demonstrate its leadership in the region. ...

External link

• BSEC website