In Brussels, Prof. Milen Baltov with a Proposal for the Oceans and Seas

On March 6, in the building of the European Commission in Brussels, a round table was organized with rectors of alliances for European universities and managers of the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation and the European Agency for Culture and Education, at which the Rector of Burgas Free University Prof. Dr. Milen Baltov was invited first keynote speaker. The event is part of the European Ocean Days, which were previously opened by the Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation Ms. Ekaterina Zaharieva and the Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Prof. Costas Kadis.

The specific focus of the round table concerned the European Union's mission "Restore our Oceans and Waters by 2030" and the opportunities to respond to the challenges through the already established alliances of European universities. In addition to the Rector of the Burgas Free University, which since November 1, 2024 formed the EUNICoast (European University of Island, Port and Coastal Territories), the discussion was attended by Prof. Massimo Midiri, Rector of the University of Palermo (Italy) from the University Alliance BLUE-ERA, Prof. Alessandra Teodosio, Vice-Rector of the University of the Algarve (Portugal) from the SEA-EU Alliance and Assoc. Prof. Carson, director of the institute of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Tromsø from the EOREA alliance.

Prof. Prof. Baltov outlined the milestones contained in the Draghi Report, the new European Ocean Pact, the next Multiannual Financial Framework and the Competitiveness Compass. On this basis, he proposed:

1. The alliances for European Universities to work towards an Oceans Coalition – expanding the scope of current education efforts with research and innovation, and towards citizens science and ocean literacy over the blue economy and society sectors.

2. To affirm the "fourth mission" of university – the entrepreneurship as a way of thinking, student achievements and organizational culture: in the direction of "blue entrepreneurship" and accelerators for start-ups in the blue economy, and in the direction of "blue careers" and mobilities ("Erasmus+" blue version) for early careers.

The suggestions were welcomed by the Deputy Director of “Oceans, Seas and Waters”” at DG RTD, Ms. Elisabetta Balzi, and by the Oceans and Waters” Mission board leader and lead of the first Master's Program in Sustainable Blue Economy, Prof. Pedicchio from the University of Trieste, and brought together participants from other alliances of European universities, as well as stakeholders at the round table.