Black Sea Young Reformers Fellowship (BSYR)

Establishing networks in the Black Sea Area

The Black Sea Area has always functioned as a bridge between Europe and Asia. But in the last few years the region has once more come to the attention of the European Union and the international community. Two countries in that region, Bulgaria and Romania, have become members of the European Union. The region has also taken on greater importance with regard to the energy needs of the EU. However, regional conflicts have overshadowed the development of the countries around the Black Sea. In light of the meagre cooperation among the countries in the region and the limited options available to the EU, any future development in the region will require a regional approach.

Program objectives

To network reform-oriented young leaders in politics, administration and think tanks is the goal the Black Sea Young Reformers Fellowship has set for itself. The BSYR Fellowship serves as a forum where its members can discuss problems they have in common and should thus contribute toward identifying potential for development in the Black Sea Area. The program’s goal is to foster dialog between tomorrow’s leaders and help them see the possibilities of closer cooperation. Positions and working results of all fellows are communicated to decision-makers within the EU and its member states and shall contribute to a stronger awareness of this region.

Program year

A dialog between the fellows takes place during two conferences every year, one in the region and another either in Brussels. The fellows meet in plenary sessions and workshops to identify common challenges in the region and overcome national perspectives. Common positions and cooperation ideas will be developed and concretized during the intermediate conference period. The main focus lies in reporting the results to European decision-makers of the Commission, the European External Action Service and European Parliament in the closing conference in fall.

Cooperation partners and patrons

The Black Sea Young Reformers Fellowship is a partnership between the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the Center for Applied Policy Research (C.A.P.), the International Relations Council of Turkey at the Kadir Has University and the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Carl Bildt, the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Hans-Gert Poettering, former President of the European Parliament have both taken over the patronage of the program.

An alumni initiative is continuing and framing the networking of former and current fellows.