The Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) is launching a Coordination Unit for Marine Policies, established by order of the Minister of Environment and Water Julian Popov. The new expert structure was created with the aim of achieving more effective management of processes and information related to the Black Sea, as well as improving coordination between competent institutions and scientific organizations.

The experts in the Coordination Unit will work on the implementation of European legislation and the implementation of the country's international commitments related to the marine environment. Their main activities are related to the management of information and data on marine waters, as well as the implementation of scientific achievements and international experience in the field of monitoring and management of marine resources.

The MOEW, together with the Black Sea Basin Directorate, is responsible for the development and implementation of the Marine Strategy of the Republic of Bulgaria in accordance with the requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, as well as for the organization of marine water monitoring. The new coordination unit will focus on the development of national and European policies for the Black Sea.

The specific tasks of the Coordination Unit "Marine Policies" include:

• coordination and methodological guidance of the Black Sea Region Basin Directorate and other competent institutions in the development and implementation of the Marine Strategy;
• supporting the implementation of the country's obligations under the Black Sea Convention;
• coordination of marine water monitoring activities;
• collection, analysis, and systematization of data on the state of the marine environment;
• ensuring coordination and exchange of information related to policies and strategies for the Black Sea;
• participation in joint on-site inspections with the Black Sea Region Basin Directorate and the relevant regional inspectorates for environment and water.

To launch the activities of the Coordination Unit, a plan-programme has been developed aimed at quickly building a comprehensive and objective snapshot of the state of the Black Sea Region, the institutional framework, the obligations of the Republic of Bulgaria, and the available data. This will be achieved through a combination of document analysis, institutional mapping, and field visits.