The AII Permanent Secretariat took part in the 16th Coordination Meeting of Regional Organizations held at the Permanent International Secretariat of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC), in Istanbul, Türkiye on 8 December. 

 

The event, held on a rotating basis, was also attended by the Central European Initiative (CEI) and the Union for the Mediterranean Secretariat (UFM Secretariat), with the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub as special guest. It gave participants the chance to present their respective activities in promoting regional dialogue and cooperation and exchange views and good practices with focus on blue economy activities, climate change and UN SDGs’ implementation. This, to guarantee joint complementary actions in areas of mutual interest. 

SG Ambassador Lazar Comanescu - who opened the roundtable - presented the BSEC activities and underlined the importance of synergies especially in the current unpredictable times for the regions covered by the organisations - with numerous countries and challenges in common. 

Amb. Pigliapoco, Head of the AII Permanent Secretariat, illustrated the political focus of the AII and its main activities with particular regard to the AII contribution to the implementation of the UN Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Developments Goals.  

After the presentation of their respective activities participants agreed that there were numerous possibilities for enhancing cooperation, and to continue the exchange on a regular basis also in between meetings.

The participants also agreed on the venue of the meetings for the next two years: in Ancona, hosted by the AII in 2023 and in Trieste, hosted by the CEI in 2024.