On February 24-25, 2025, the RESPONSE project held a Regional Co-Creation Workshop at NIMRD in Constanta, Romania. Building on insights gained from national workshops, this event gathered key stakeholders from Bulgaria, Georgia, Ukraine, Romania and Greece to refine advanced training curricula for marine pollution preparedness and response.
Experts from the Black Sea Commission, project partners, and regional authorities opened the event, setting the stage for discussions on marine pollution challenges, policy frameworks, and national workshop findings. Interactive sessions allowed stakeholders to share perspectives on training needs, followed by presentations on scientific and digital innovations in pollution monitoring and response.
🌊 Key Workshop Outcomes
🔹 Defined Training Modules – A structured curriculum framework for marine pollution response was developed, addressing pollution sources, governance, monitoring tools, response strategies, and digital innovations.
🔹 Integrated Stakeholder Input – The training content was co-created with decision-makers, academia, industry, and emergency response organizations to ensure relevance and practical application.
🔹 Strengthened Regional Cooperation – The workshop facilitated networking and collaboration among Black Sea countries, supporting the harmonization of training approaches.
🔹 Identified Best Practices and Gaps – Participants benchmarked national training programs, identifying limitations and areas for improvement.
🔹 Established Digital Learning Pathways – Plans were made to integrate e-learning toolkits and IT platforms, enhancing accessibility and scalability of training.
🔹 Synergies with EU-Funded Projects – The workshop fostered collaboration with other EU co-funded initiatives, including Black Sea SIERRA, BS-SEOS, NEMOTools, EfxINNOs, MARMAPS, SOSZEROPOL2030, Iliad – BS Fishery Pilot and DOORS, ensuring alignment and knowledge exchange across regional efforts.
The workshop successfully strengthened cooperation between policymakers, scientists, and emergency responders, laying the groundwork for an effective, technology-driven training framework.
Stay tuned for upcoming training opportunities!