SBSR 2014

Energy Security – innovative solutions to enduring problems, 2014 Edition. During March 18 – 20, 2013, under the patronage of the Presidential Administration, the Romanian Intelligence Service and Harvard Kennedy School of Government, the conference “15 years of Commitment, Success and Way Forward” was organized, being a retrospective, detailed analysis of the Black Sea Security program, initiated by Harvard University in 1997 and a strategic planning of future events. As a second stage of this partnership, during December 6 – 8, 2013, an international conference titled “International Cooperation in the Black Sea Region in the past 20 years and the next 20 years” was held in Bucharest, thus marking ANIMV assuming the responsibility of further developing the program from Harvard Kennedy School of Government. The event reunited 47 representatives of both academia, civil, and private experts, as well as staff of the secret services from the extended region of the Black Sea and USA. The training program aimed at the public leadership proved its continuity by organizing and developing the June 2-7, 2014 first edition of “Security in the Black Sea Region. Shared challenges, sustainable future” (SBSR). The topic of this edition was “Energy Security – innovative solutions to enduring problems” and was attended by approximately 70 people, keynote speakers and participants from Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Republic of Moldova, United States, Great Britain, Serbia, Croatia, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, as well as EU and NATO high-ranked officials.

Topic:

Energy security – innovative solutions to enduring problems
Looking back at the first decade of the 21st century, we understand that we have been witness to an increasingly multipolar world in which power dissipates, traditional centric patterns of thinking are challenged and alternative solutions are shared with volatile communities of practice and interests. The Black Sea region has remained in this period a relatively stable environment. Its enduring problems have been balanced by new windows of opportunity and an increasingly dynamic cooperation which allowed it to maintain along an optimal state. But stable no longer necessarily means sustainable. Local actors, from state authorities to civil society representatives need, here as elsewhere, to take on the lead and create a sustainable future at regional level.
Furthermore, the Black Sea extended region remains one of the most promising future providers of traditional and alternative energy sources both for Europe and Asia.
It is the reason why, we believe, responsible actors in our region and their partners need to foster a common understanding and vision on regional development.
In this context, the first edition of the joint Harvard University (USA) – National Intelligence Academy (Romania) program will be devoted to discussing shared challenges and identifying the right solutions to maintain energy security in the region.
Program attendants were encouraged to discuss topics which included:

1.    Strategic views on Energy Security in the Black Sea Region
2.    Black Sea Energy Security – social, environmental and economic impact
3.    Mapping new futures for common good – energy  “windows of opportunity
4.    Shifts of power and factors of change – national and international outlooks on  the Black Sea Region energy security
Alternative sources of energy – different future(s), contested solutions
Date & Location:
June 2-7, 2014, Bucharest and Constanta

Format :
•    Presentations delivered by key note speakers
•    Roundtable discussion sessions (reviews of current issues, policy analysis on topics that generate or benefit from extended discussions etc.)
•    Problem solving sessions
•    Alternative scenario creation & tailored exercises