PREP4BLUE partners actively participated in the testing of innovative collaboration processes through Pilot Stakeholder Assemblies.
The month of November has been particularly busy with the organisation of two major multi-stakeholder gatherings, to implement relevant stakeholder engagement methods and recommendations outlined in PREP4BLUE. They thus offered a strong foundation for impactful stakeholders’ participation in the projects of the Mission.
On 5-7 November 2024, kindly hosted by the Batumi State Maritime Academy, the Danube and Black Sea Pilot Stakeholder Assembly, took place in the beautiful coastal city of Batumi, Ajara Autonomous Republic, Georgia. Organised by the CPMR, in collaboration with the CNR and EcoDaLLi project, it gathered more than forty actors from the Danube and Black Sea.
The first day of the event fostered the exchange of good practices and key opportunities to strengthen collaboration among these actors for the preservation and restoration of marine and freshwater ecosystems in the Danube and Black Sea. In particular, Mr Jaba Putkaradze, Minister of Finance and Economy of Ajara Autonomous Republic, emphasised in a keynote speech the importance of boosting cross-border collaboration with non-EU countries and of including the Eastern part of the Black Sea basin in the Mission Ocean and Waters. Ms Andreea Strachinescu, Head of Unit, Maritime Innovation, Marine Knowledge & Investment, European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), presented an ocean of opportunities in the framework of the Mission Ocean, in particular, the Mission Calls and the EU BlueInvest platform to unlock innovation and investment opportunities in the blue economy. Representatives from the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea and Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP), as well as from the projects of the Danube and Black Sea Lighthouse showcased relevant activities and potential cross-fertilisation activities, such as a Danube and Black Sea summer school. Dr. Tatiana Sitchinava, presented the key engagement of the youth through the Black Sea Young Ambassadors and highlighted the potential connection with the Danube Youth Council.
The World Café organised on Wednesday 6 November featured 4 round tables, addressing the main challenges related to nature-based solutions, innovation ecosystems, water systems and climate change and developing key recommendations, such as the promotion of open access to data for enhanced water management solutions, the creation of specialisation clusters, or the need to better link the blue economy and circular economy. The key outcomes of the round tables will be compiled in a dedicated roadmap and incorporated in the Danube Innovation Strategic Action Plan, the main outcome of the project EcoDaLLi. The event climaxed with a visit of the Kolkheti National Park, a wetland inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. It offered the participants a memorable field experience, connecting the event discussions with the challenges of preserving a sensitive water ecosystem in Georgia.
The second Pilot Stakeholder Assembly organised in Bordeaux, France on 20 November, implemented an experimental approach to boost stakeholder engagement in the Atlantic and Arctic lighthouse, and thus enhance the implementation of restoration projects and marine conservation activities.
Hosted by the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, this event, co-organised by the CPMR and the CETMAR in collaboration with the project BlueMissionAA, counted on the active participation of Project Managers from the Atlantic lighthouse innovation action projects, policymakers, researchers, and civil society organisations.
Following a presentation of BlueMissionAA’s reflection on governance models and stakeholder engagement, Isabelle Perret, High-level Expert in Integrated Maritime Policy at the French General Directorate of Maritime Affairs, Fisheries, and Aquaculture, notably showcased “the sea in debate”, an unprecedented and large-scale public consultation exercise conducted this year in France, for the co-creation of the French strategy for the sea and the coastline 2024-2030, which successfully gathered more than 21 000 participants.
The CPMR presented the sea parliament model, piloted by several French regions, which particularly inspired the audience, as a relevant consultation process to be potentially replicated in other Mission lighthouses and countries.
After setting the scene, participants engaged in a role-playing game based on two scenarios inspired by case studies from the project CLIMAREST and OCEAN CITIZEN. Each scenario featured fictive characters representing various stakeholders from the quintuple helix model, aiming to identify potential solutions applicable to real-world situations. The game was developed with strong support from Synergie Littoral, a French startup specialising in mediation processes to facilitate stakeholder dialogue and conflict resolution. This collaboration enriched the game by incorporating key methods that fostered more impactful discussions.
As a back-to-back event to the Atlantic Stakeholder Platform Conference, the event provided key outcomes to potentially nurture the activities implemented within the Atlantic Strategy Pillar IV on a healthy ocean and resilient coasts.
All the presentations of the guest speakers and event outcomes are available on the respective event webpage:
These events complement two other stakeholder assemblies organised in PRPE4BLUE, in collaboration with the other CSAs, namely the PREP4BLUE and BlueMissionMed event ‘Sustainable Rivers: Bridging Local and European Initiatives water’, held in Rome on 21 May 2024, and the first Mission Arena organised in the framework of BlueMissionBANOS.
The key results of the Pilot Stakeholder Assemblies will be compiled in a dedicated PREP4BLUE report, providing impactful reflection on the stakeholder engagement methods tested and recommendations for future implementation of Stakeholder Assemblies in each Mission lighthouse. Stay tuned!
