Implementation period: 02/09/2025 – 01/03/2027
Total budget: EUR 497,719.06
Interreg funding: EUR 447,947.15

Project “Black Sea Unites Against Natural Disasters – BSB01014” is co-financed by the INTERREG NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme 2021–2027. The main objective of the project is to increase disaster resilience in the Black Sea region. The project includes the following activities: disaster awareness trainings, visits to a disaster training center, improvement of the equipment and technical capacity of search and rescue teams, awareness-raising initiatives among students in schools and citizens, international experience-sharing meetings between professionals and volunteers in the field of disaster management, as well as the development of recommendations to policymakers regarding the issues that hinder the effectiveness of non-governmental organizations operating in the field of disasters.

Lead Partner: Trakya Development Agency, Tekirdağ, Türkiye
Partners:
Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”, Bulgaria
Hellenic Rescue Team, Greece
Tekirdağ Metropolitan Municipality, Türkiye

On 17 April 2026, Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar” hosted the first partner meeting to report on the progress of Project No. BSB01014 “Black Sea Unites Against Natural Disasters – BSB BSUAND”, funded under the INTERREG NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme 2021–2027.

Representatives of all partner organizations took part in the event. They presented the activities implemented so far, following the project’s timeline from its launch to the current stage. The Lead Partner summarized the results achieved and outlined the next steps in the implementation process.

During the meeting, the partners discussed the submitted first interim report to the Managing Authority of the Programme, including the procedure for working with the JEMS platform. It was agreed to use a common template to unify the information provided by partners when preparing the second interim report.

The partners also agreed that the consortium’s monthly online meetings will be held on the last Friday of each month.

The Lead Partner – Thrace Development Agency, Tekirdağ, Türkiye – presented an overview of the budget expenditure at both partner and consortium level.

The meeting continued with the presentation of the communication plan developed by the Lead Partner, which will be applied across the consortium. New opportunities for disseminating project activities through news and social media posts were also discussed.

The partners concluded the meeting by acknowledging the excellent implementation of the project to date and expressing confidence in its successful continuation.







 

On 19–20 November 2025, the city of Tekirdağ, Türkiye hosted the first partnership meeting under project No. BSB01014 “Black Sea Unites Against Natural Disasters – BSB-BSUAND”.

During the event, each partner organization presented its activities and project teams engaged in disaster prevention and response. The discussions highlighted key aspects of the grant agreement, the agenda for the upcoming visit to the Disaster Training Center in Bursa, as well as financial parameters, reporting schedules, and forthcoming activities.

On the following day, participants visited the Disaster Education Center in Bursa – the first of its kind worldwide. The center’s advanced infrastructure and technological facilities provided valuable insights and practical knowledge, significantly enhancing the partners’ awareness and preparedness for emergency situations.