Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation

24/07/2026

Our colleague Bogdan Cozma writes on the EU's approach to the Middle Corridor, the trade route linking Europe and Central Asia via the Black Sea and South Caucasus.

He examines why the corridor's development remains split across separate EU programs, and considers whether the Three Seas Initiative, which includes partners such as Türkiye, Ukraine, and Moldova, could serve as a coordinating partner for the corridor's European end.

🔗 Read the full article here: https://www.gmfus.org/news/unified-platform-middle-corridor

Our Brussels-based colleague, Kadri Taştan, makes the case in "Rethinking the Middle Corridor" for seeing the corridor as more than a shipping route, it's a strategic asset that strengthens economic security, supply-chain resilience, regional ties, and EU–Türkiye relations. What matters most isn't the volume of trade it carries, but the strategic flexibility it offers.

🔗 Read the full article here: https://www.gmfus.org/news/middle-corridor-spotlight

Breadcrumb Home Press A Unified Platform For The Middle Corridor Insights A Unified Platform for the Middle Corridor The EU has the funding. The Three Seas Initiative has the pipeline. July 22, 2026 by Bogdan Cozma 6 min read Share Security and Geopolitics Strategic Infrastructure Trade, Economics,....

07/07/2026

📢 We are hiring! Join the German Marshall Fund’s Bucharest Office

The Bucharest Office of the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is looking for a Program Assistant to join our team.

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated professional with an interest in democracy, civic engagement, international affairs, and the Black Sea region to contribute to GMF’s work supporting regional cooperation, dialogue, and democratic resilience.

As part of the South and Wider Europe Program, the Program Assistant will support the implementation of GMF Bucharest’s grant-making programs, including grant management, reporting, research, coordination with partners and grantees, and assistance with program activities and events.

The ideal candidate will have:
✔️ Experience in project or grant management within the nonprofit sector
✔️ Strong interest and knowledge of foreign policy, international affairs, and the Black Sea region
✔️ Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills
✔️ Strong written and spoken English skills (Romanian is an advantage)

If you are passionate about supporting impactful initiatives and want to contribute to GMF’s mission of strengthening transatlantic cooperation and democratic values, we encourage you to apply.

📍 Location: Bucharest, Romania
📅 Apply here:

 Department/Program Summary: GMF's South and Wider Europe Program focuses on the "Global South", which plays an increasingly important role amid geopolitical shifts; the Mediterranean, a crossroads for trade, energy, migration, and security; and the Balkans and Black Sea regions, which are...

30/06/2026

29/06/2026

Last week, the GMF Bucharest Office, represented by our colleague, Valerii Kravets, convened a closed roundtable in Gdansk on the margins of the Ukraine Recovery Conference: “Investment-Grade Ukraine - Connecting International Capital to Ukraine’s Local Level.”

The discussion brought together international business, diplomats, local self-government, experts and think tanks, and Ukrainian business around a question that both recovery and EU integration depend on: how international capital actually reaches Ukraine’s local level, where land, permits, workforce, and the operating environment are managed day to day. In Ukraine that means one of more than 1,300 local communities.

The conversation centered on a structural gap - not a shortage of capital, but a shortage of community-level readiness to attract and absorb it - and on the role civil society can play in bridging it.

This event is part of GMF Bucharest’s work across the wider Black Sea region, sustaining ties between Romania, Ukraine, and Moldova.

19/06/2026

16/06/2026

On June 15, the GMF Bucharest Office hosted the dinner roundtable “From the Ground Up: Civil Society's Role in Moldova's EU Accession Path” in Chișinău, bringing together senior representatives from Moldova and Romania, diplomatic missions, international partners, and civil society organizations to discuss the role of civic actors in advancing Moldova’s EU accession process.

The discussion highlighted how civil society continues to be a key partner in supporting reforms, strengthening institutional accountability, building public trust, and ensuring that European integration translates into meaningful change for citizens.

Participants exchanged views on opportunities to enhance cooperation between civil society, government institutions, and European partners, as well as on ways to strengthen public engagement and communication throughout Moldova’s accession journey.

The event brought together representatives including H.E. Mihai Popșoi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova; diplomatic representatives from Sweden, Germany, Romania, and Switzerland; representatives of Moldova’s institutions; and experts from the German Marshall Fund of the United States, including Sergiu Panainte, Regional Director of the GMF Bucharest Office.

We thank all participants for their valuable contributions and for their commitment to supporting Moldova’s European path through dialogue, expertise, and partnership.

09/06/2026

We were pleased to participate in the June 4 meeting of the Consultative Council with civil society and academia, organized by the Ministerul Afacerilor Externe/ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Romania.

The discussions brought together representatives of government, civil society, and the research community to exchange views on Romania's strategic role in the region, international development cooperation, public diplomacy, and support for partner countries, including the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, and the Western Balkans.

The GMF Bucharest Office was represented by Sergiu Panainte, Regional Director, and Irina Neagu, Project Manager. We thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the opportunity to contribute to this important exchange and look forward to continuing these conversations in the framework of the Council's future working groups.

Pe 4 iunie am avut o nouă reuniune a Consiliului Consultativ cu societatea civilă și mediul academic, înființat de MAE anul trecut, la inițiativa doamnei ministru Oana Țoiu. Am avut privilegiul de a ne consulta cu reprezentanți ai societății civile și ai mediului de cercetare privind poziționarea strategică a României în regiune, cooperarea pentru dezvoltare și modul în care putem avansa diplomația publică a României în cadrul evenimentelor internaționale.

Discuțiile au evidențiat provocările globale și nivelul de ambiție pe care ni-l putem asuma atât la nivel național, cât și în cadrul Uniunii Europene și al altor instituții internaționale. Este clar că demersurile diplomației românești trebuie să se bazeze pe expertiză, cunoaștere și parteneriate. Numai astfel putem valorifica potențialul României de a deveni un veritabil hub regional de know-how, cercetare și sprijin pentru statele partenere.

Am abordat prioritățile României în domeniul cooperării internaționale pentru dezvoltare, consolidarea colaborării cu Republica Moldova, Ucraina și statele din Balcanii de Vest, precum și oportunitățile pe care le oferă participarea țării noastre la evenimente internaționale, precum Expoziția Mondială din Serbia 2027, a cărei tematică axată pe sport poate ilustra foarte bine zestrea extraordinară a României în acest domeniu.

Mulțumesc participanților pentru contribuțiile valoroase și pentru angajamentul de a construi împreună o voce mai puternică și mai vizibilă la nivel regional și internațional! Vom forma grupuri de lucru specializate pe anumite direcții de acțiune imediate și vom utiliza în continuare ansamblul de capabilități și expertiză al societății civile și al mediului academic românesc în domeniul relațiilor externe ale României.

09/06/2026

Armenia’s latest parliamentary election was about more than politics, it was a choice about the country’s future geopolitical direction.

Read the latest GMF analysis by Laurențiu Pleșca and Elene Kintsurashvili: Armenia Chose Continuity Over Ties to Russia.

Breadcrumb Home Press Armenia Chose Continuity Over Ties To Russia Insights Armenia Chose Continuity Over Ties to Russia Now, Europe must choose commitment. June 08, 2026 by Elene Kintsurashvili Laurențiu Pleșca 3 min read Share Elections Foreign Policy Caucasus European Union Photo by Sean Gallup...

02/06/2026

A Russian drone strikes Romania. Is NATO adapting quickly enough to a new era of warfare?

In his latest analysis, our colleague Valerii Kravets examines the implications of a Russian drone incident on Romanian territory and argues that repeated violations of NATO airspace require a stronger and more coordinated response. Drawing on Ukraine's experience, the piece highlights important lessons for the Alliance's deterrence posture and preparedness in the face of evolving threats.

Read the full analysis:

Russian Drone in Romania: Implications for NATO and Ukraine. Find out more.

02/06/2026

Can connectivity reshape the future of the South Caucasus?

In her latest analysis, our colleague Irina Neagu explores how Armenia is emerging as a key link between Europe, the Black Sea region, and Central Asia. As regional dynamics shift following the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace agreement and amid growing efforts to diversify trade and transport routes, connectivity is becoming much more than infrastructure - it is increasingly about resilience, security, economic integration, and geopolitical orientation.

Armenia’s upcoming political choices will have implications far beyond its borders, influencing regional cooperation, new transport corridors, and the broader architecture connecting Europe and Asia.

Read the full analysis here:

Breadcrumb Home Press A New Connectivity Hub Insights A New Connectivity Hub Armenia finds itself at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. June 01, 2026 by Irina Neagu 5 min read Share Security and Geopolitics Strategic Infrastructure Caucasus Photo: Shutterstock/ Barney.DC Print Article Listen to this...