REPORT OF THE THIRTY-SIXTH MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE BSEC MEMBER STATES

ORGANIZATION OF THE BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION Permanent International Secretariat REPORT OF THE THIRTY-SIXTH MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE BSEC MEMBER STATES Istanbul, Republic of Turkey, 29 June 2017 BS/FM/R(2017)1 1. The 36 th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the BSEC Member States was held in Istanbul, Republic of Turkey, on 29 June 2017. It was preceded by the Meeting of the BSEC Committee of Senior Officials on 27-28 June 2017. 2. The following BSEC Member States attended the Meeting: Republic of Albania Republic of Armenia Republic of Azerbaijan Republic of Bulgaria Georgia Hellenic Republic Republic of Moldova Romania Russian Federation Republic of Serbia Republic of Turkey Ukraine 3. The following BSEC Related Bodies participated in the Meeting: Parliamentary Assembly of BSEC (PABSEC) BSEC Business Council (BSEC BC) Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) 4. The following BSEC Observers attended the Meeting: Republic of Austria Republic of Belarus Czech Republic State of Israel Darüşşafaka Caddesi, Seba Center İş Merkezi, No: 45, Kat 3, İstinye, Sarıyer Istanbul, Turkey Tel: +90 (212) 229 63 30-35; Fax: +90 (212) 229 63 36 : info@bsec-organization.org www.bsec-organization.org

Republic of Italy Republic of Poland Slovak Republic European Commission Black Sea Commission (BSC) 5. The following BSEC Sectoral Dialogue Partners participated in the Meeting: Islamic Republic of Iran Black Sea Broadcasting Regulatory Authorities Forum (BRAF) 6. The list of participants of the Meeting is attached as Annex I. 7. The draft agenda of the Meeting was discussed and adopted. The agenda, as adopted by the Ministers, is attached as Annex II. 8. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Mr. Ahmet YILDIZ, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey. The opening statement of the Chairperson is attached as Annex III. 9. H.E. Ambassador Michael B. CHRISTIDES, Secretary General of the Permanent International Secretariat of the Organization of BSEC delivered a statement, the text of which is attached as Annex IV. 10. The texts of the general statements of the Heads of Delegations are attached as Annex V. RESOLUTIONS, DECISIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 11. The Council took note of the Reports of the Meetings of the BSEC Committee of Senior Officials (Istanbul, 18-20 May 2017; BSEC Headquarters, 27-28 June 2017), which are attached as Annexes VI and VII. The Council also welcomed the organization of an Informal Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials (BSEC Headquarters, 23-24 March 2017). 12. Taking into consideration the developments in BSEC since the 35 th Meeting of the Council, the Ministers discussed the draft Resolutions, Decisions and Recommendations, which were submitted to them by the Committee of Senior Officials. 13. The draft document containing the Resolutions, Decisions and Recommendations was adopted. The respective list of Resolutions, Decisions and Recommendations is attached as Annex VIII. DATE AND VENUE OF THE NEXT MEETING OF THE COUNCIL 14. The next regular Meeting of the BSEC Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs will be hosted by Ukraine. The date and venue of the Meeting will be announced in due course. EXPRESSION OF THANKS 15. The Ministers expressed their sincere thanks to the Government of the Republic of Turkey for its contribution to the further promotion of the BSEC goals. They also expressed their gratitude for the hospitality extended to the Delegations and the excellent arrangements

made for the 25 th Anniversary Summit of BSEC, this and other Ministerial or high level meetings organized in the Republic of Turkey during its Chairmanship-in-Office. 16. The Ministers wished success to Ukraine for its incoming Chairmanship-in-Office. ADOPTION OF THE REPORT 17. This Report was adopted by the 36 th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the BSEC Member States.

Annex VIII to BS/FM/R(2017)1 THIRTY-SIXTH MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE BSEC MEMBER STATES Istanbul, 29 June 2017 RESOLUTIONS, DECISIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS (RBs, OBs, SDPs) I. RESOLUTIONS ISSUES RELATED TO REFORMING BSEC This agenda item was discussed in camera. FINANCIAL ISSUES This agenda item was discussed in camera. RENEWAL OF THE OBSERVER STATUS Republic of Belarus 8. The Council, considering the application of the Republic of Belarus, agreed to renew the Observer status to the applicant State for another period of two years, as of 1 July 2017. Federal Republic of Germany 9. The Council, considering the application of the Federal Republic of Germany, agreed to renew the Observer status to the applicant State for another period of two years, as of 1 July 2017. Italian Republic 10. The Council, considering the application of the Italian Republic, agreed to renew the Observer status to the applicant State for another period of two years, as of 1 July 2017. Republic of Tunisia 11. The Council, considering the application of the Republic of Tunisia, agreed to renew the Observer status to the applicant State for another period of two years, as of 1 July 2017.

Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution 12. The Council, considering the application of the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution, agreed to renew the Observer status to the applicant organization for another period of two years, as of 1 July 2017. RENEWAL OF THE SECTORAL DIALOGUE PARTNERSHIP STATUS Black Sea Broadcasting Regulatory Authorities Forum (BRAF) 13. The Council, considering the request of the Black Sea Broadcasting Regulatory Authorities Forum (BRAF), agreed to renew the Sectoral Dialogue Partnership Status of the requesting organization for another period of two years, as of 1 July 2017. International Network for SMEs (INSME) 14. The Council, considering the request of the International Network for SMEs (INSME), agreed to renew the Sectoral Dialogue Partnership Status of the requesting organization for another period of two years, as of 1 July 2017. BSEC-EU INTERACTION 15. The Council took note of recent developments in BSEC-EU interaction and reiterated its support for developing a project-oriented, balanced and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two parties. 16. The Council instructed the BSEC PERMIS to continue proactively engaging in the formulation of project proposals falling within BSEC objectives, fully respecting the prerogatives of the Member States, with the view to take advantage of the financing opportunities and procedures of European financial instruments. ACTIVITIES OF BSEC PERMIS This agenda item was discussed in camera. II. DECISIONS REVIEW OF THE STATE OF COOPERATION AMONG THE MEMBER STATES Trade and Economic Development Informal Meetings of the Working Group on Customs Matters (BSEC HQ, 4 November 2016, and 21 April 2017) 21. The Council took note of the Conclusions of the Informal Meetings of the Working Group on Customs Matters, held at the BSEC Headquarters on 4 November 2016 and 21 April 2017, and called upon the BSEC Member States to intensify their cooperation in this respect.

Meeting of the Working Group on SMEs (BSEC HQ, 7 December 2016) 22. The Council took note of the Report of the Meeting of the Working Group on SMEs, held at the BSEC Headquarters on 7 December 2016, and instructed it to focus on the implementation of the priorities contained in the new Plan of Action of the Working Group. Workshop on The Role and Impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for Young Entrepreneurs (Istanbul, 16-17 March 2017, co-organized by BSEC with the Turkish branch of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation) 23. The Council took note of the Summary Proceedings of the Workshop entitled The Role and Impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for Young Entrepreneurs, held in Istanbul on 16-17 March 2017, and encouraged the Member States to take into consideration the recommendations of the Workshop. Meeting of the Working Group on Banking and Finance (BSEC HQ, 13 April 2017) 24. The Council took note of the Report of the Meeting of the Working Group on Banking and Finance, held at the BSEC Headquarters on 13 April 2017, and instructed it to focus on the implementation of the priorities contained in the new Plan of Action of the Working Group. Seminar on Automation of Transit Procedures & Electronic Exchange of Data within the Context of Trade Facilitation (Istanbul, 19-20 April 2017) 25. The Council took note of the Summary Proceedings of the Seminar on Automation of Transit Procedures & Electronic Exchange of Data within the Context of Trade Facilitation, held in Istanbul on 19-20 April 2017, and advised the Member States to take into consideration the recommendations of the Seminar. Workshop on Commercial Registry (BSEC HQ, 19-20 April 2017) 26. The Council took note of the Summary Proceedings of the Workshop entitled Our Collaboration Point: Commercial Registry, held at the BSEC Headquarters on 19-20 April 2017, and encouraged the Member States to take into consideration the recommendations of the Workshop. Meeting of the Working Group on Trade and Economic Development (BSEC HQ, 4 May 2017) 27. The Council took note of the Report of the Meeting of the Working Group on Trade and Economic Development, held at the BSEC Headquarters on 4 May 2017. Meeting of the Ministers in Charge of Economy (Istanbul, 11 May 2017) 28. The Council welcomed the Joint Declaration of the Ministers in charge of Economy of the BSEC Member States on Increasing intra-trade in the BSEC Region via trade facilitation, adopted at the Meeting held in Istanbul on 11 May 2017, and instructed the relevant BSEC Working Groups to consider and take actions for the implementation of the provisions of the Joint Declaration.

Sectoral Cooperation in Economic Areas Meeting of the Working Group on Agriculture and Agro-Industry (BSEC HQ, 28-29 March 2017) 29. The Council took note of the Report of the Meeting of the Working Group on Agriculture and Agro-Industry and welcomed the adoption of the two-year Action Plan of the Working Group for the period 2017-2018. Informal Meeting of the Steering Committee on the Development of the Black Sea Ring Highway (BSEC HQ, 15 May 2017) 30. The Council was informed about the Informal Meeting of the Steering Committee on the Development of the Black Sea Ring Highway, held at the BSEC Headquarters, on 15 May 2017 and encouraged the BSEC Member States to intensify their cooperation in this respect. Informal Meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Development of the Motorways of the Sea (BSEC HQ, 15 May 2017) 31. The Council took note of the Report of the Meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Development of the Motorways of the Sea, held at the BSEC Headquarters, on 15 May 2017. Meeting of the Working Group on Agriculture and Agro-Industry at the level of Senior Officials (Istanbul, 16 May 2017) 32. The Council took note of the Report of the Meeting of the Working Group on Agriculture and Agro-Industry at the level of Senior Officials held in Istanbul on 16 May 2017. Meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture (Istanbul, 17 May 2017) 33. The Council took note of the Report of the Meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture of the BSEC Member States and, acknowledging the adoption of the Joint Declaration, instructed the Working Group on Agriculture and Agro-industry to proceed with the implementation of the provisions of the Joint Declaration at its next meetings. Meeting of the Working Group on Energy (BSEC HQ, 15 June 2017) 34. The Council took note of the Report of the Meeting of the Working Group on Energy, held at the BSEC Headquarters on 15 June 2017, and encouraged it to finalize the Green Energy Strategy Paper. Science, Education, Tourism and Culture Meeting of the Working Group on Cooperation in Science and Technology (BSEC HQ, 7 April 2017) 35. The Council took note of the Report of the Meeting of the Working Group on Cooperation in Science and Technology, held at the BSEC Headquarters on 7 April 2017, and instructed it to focus on the implementation of the priorities contained in the new Plan of Action of the Working Group.

Meeting of the Working Group on Culture (BSEC HQ, 14 June 2017) 36. The Council took note of the Report of the Meeting of the Working Group on Culture, held at the BSEC Headquarters on 14 June 2017, and instructed it to focus on the implementation of the priorities contained in the new Plan of Action of the Working Group. Cooperation in Social Challenges and other relevant fields Informal Meeting of the Working Group on Environmental Protection (BSEC HQ, 10 March 2017) 37. The Council took note of the Conclusions of the Informal Meeting of the Working Group on Environmental Protection, held at the BSEC Headquarters, on 10 March 2017 and encouraged the BSEC Member States to intensify their cooperation in this respect. Informal Meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts in Seismic Risk (BSEC HQ, 11 April 2017) 38. The Council took note of the Conclusions of the Informal Meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts in Seismic Risk, held at the BSEC Headquarters on 11 April 2017 and encouraged the BSEC Member States to intensify their cooperation in this respect. Meeting of the Working Group on Cooperation in Emergency Assistance and Liaison Officers of the BSEC Network on Emergency Assistance (BSEC HQ, 12 April 2017) 39. The Council took note of the Report of the Meeting of the Working Group on Cooperation in Emergency Assistance and Liaison Officers of the BSEC Network on Emergency Assistance, held at the BSEC Headquarters on 12 April 2017. Meeting of the Working Group on Institutional Renewal and Good Governance (Sofia, 4 May 2017) 40. The Council took note of the Meeting of the Working Group on Institutional Renewal and Good Governance held on 4 May 2017 in Sofia, Republic of Bulgaria. Intra-Organizational Matters Joint Meeting of the BSEC Committee of Senior Officials and the BSTDB Board of Directors (Thessaloniki, 18 November 2016) 41. The Council took note of the outcomes of the Joint Meeting of the BSEC Committee of Senior Officials and the BSTDB Board of Directors, held in Thessaloniki, on 18 November 2016. Meeting of the BSEC Troika, BSEC Related Bodies, and BSEC PERMIS (BSEC HQ, 17 January 2017) 42. The Council took note of the outcomes of the Meeting of the BSEC Troika, BSEC Related Bodies, and BSEC PERMIS, held in Istanbul, on 17 January 2017.

Coordination Meeting of the BSEC Chairmanship-in-Office, BSEC Committee of Senior Officials, BSEC Related Bodies, and BSEC PERMIS (BSEC HQ, 17 January 2017) 43. The Council took note of the outcomes of the Meeting of the BSEC Chairmanship-in- Office, BSEC Committee of Senior Officials, BSEC Related Bodies, and BSEC PERMIS, held in Istanbul, on 17 January 2017. Meetings of the Working Group on Organizational Matters (BSEC HQ, 18-19 January 2017, 23-24 February 2017, and 26-27 April 2017) 44. The Council took note of the Reports of the Meetings of the Working Group on Organizational Matters held at BSEC HQ on 18-19 January 2017, 23-24 February 2017, and 26-27 April 2017. Meetings of the Working Group on Budgetary and Financial Issues (BSEC HQ, 21-22 March 2017, and 25 April 2017) 45. The Council took note of the Report of the Meeting of the Working Group on Budgetary and Financial Issues held at BSEC HQ on 21-22 March 2017, and 25 April 2017. Meeting of the Country-Coordinators of the Working Groups, the Chairmanship-in-Office, the BSEC PERMIS, and Interested Member States at the CSO Level (BSEC HQ, 23 March 2017) 46. The Council took note of the outcomes of the Meeting of the Country-Coordinators of the Working Groups, the Chairmanship-in-Office, the BSEC PERMIS, and Interested Member States at the CSO Level, held in Istanbul on 23 March 2017. Meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group on BSEC-EU Interaction (BSEC HQ, 25 April 2017) 47. The Council took note of the Report of the Meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group on BSEC-EU Interaction, held in Istanbul on 25 April 2017. Coordination Meeting of the Communication Officers of the BSEC Member States for the Implementation of the BSEC Public Communication Strategy (BSEC HQ, 12 May 2017) 48. The Council took note of the Chairperson s Summary of the 8 th Coordination Meeting of the Communication Officers of the BSEC Member States for the Implementation of the BSEC Public Communication Strategy (BSEC Headquarters, 12 May 2017) and encouraged the increased presence of BSEC in social media, to also attract the interest of larger segments of the citizens in the BSEC Member States, especially the youth, to the activities of the Organization. APPOINTMENT OF THE COUNTRY-COORDINATORS 49. The Council expressed its appreciation for the work done by the Member States as outgoing Country-Coordinators of the Working Groups.

Working Group on Cooperation in Combating Crime, in Particular in its Organized Forms 50. The Council extended the term-in-office of Romania as the Country-Coordinator of the Working Group on Cooperation in Combating Crime, in Particular in its Organized Forms, for six months period until 31 December 2017, and instructed the next Working Group meeting to consider the issue of appointment of the next Country-Coordinator as of 1 January 2018. Working Group on Cooperation in Emergency Assistance 51. The Council appointed Romania as the Country-Coordinator of the Working Group on Cooperation in Emergency Assistance for a period of two years, as of 1 July 2017. Working Group on Transport 52. The Council appointed Romania as the Country-Coordinator of the Working Group on Transport for the period of two years, as of 1 July 2017. APPOINTMENTS IN THE BSEC PERMIS Deputy Secretary General, post vacant from 1 January 2018 53. The Council appointed Mr. Sergei GONCHARENKO (Russian Federation) as Deputy Secretary General of the BSEC PERMIS for a three-year term-in-office as of 1 January 2018 until 31 December 2020. Seconded Executive Manager 54. The Council appointed Mr. Nikolaos EMIRZAS (Hellenic Republic) as seconded Executive Manager of the BSEC PERMIS for one year term-in-office as of 1 January 2017 until 31 December 2017. 1 III. RECOMMENDATIONS INTERACTION BETWEEN BSEC AND PABSEC 55. The Council took note of the activities of PABSEC in the period of the Turkish Chairmanship-in-Office. INTERACTION BETWEEN BSEC AND BSEC BUSINESS COUNCIL 56. The Council took note of the activities of the BSEC Business Council in the period of the Turkish Chairmanship-in-Office. 1 Decision adopted by Silence Procedure initiated in accordance with Article 16 of the Rules of Procedure on 30 December 2016 (BSEC PERMIS Note No: BS/INFO.2016.0658).

INTERACTION BETWEEN BSEC AND BSTDB 57. The Council took note of the activities of the BSTDB in the period of the Turkish Chairmanship-in-Office. 58. The Council welcomed the positive development of the BSTDB s activities and portfolio in Member States, including the enhanced lending in the currencies of the Member States. 59. The Council encouraged the ongoing dialogue between the Bank and the Government of the Republic of Serbia on the membership issue. INTERACTION BETWEEN BSEC AND THE ICBSS 60. The Council took note of the activities of ICBSS in the period of the Turkish Chairmanship-in-Office, in particular its contribution to the commemoration of the 25 th Anniversary of BSEC and encouraged it to continue promoting the goals and objectives of the Organization.