This is a an international multidisciplinary Conference to be held in Trabzon, Turkey, at the Black Sea (BS) coast in June 2008. It is organised by the NGO Inten-Synergy in cooperation with the Karadeniz Technical University of Trabzon. It is important to have a clear picture of the state of the environment in the Black Sea and the pressures that this ecosystem is suffering from development, especially in the coastal areas. Once the diagnosis is carried out, the remedies should be considered, legal and economic instruments, and their effectiveness.

Now that the Black Sea became, thanks to the accession of Bulgaria and Romania and the capacity of Turkey as an EU candidate country, a "European Sea", it is important to ensure that the "acquis communautaire" starts applying to it, with the view to a high level of protection of the environment as with the other EU marine environment. It is also important to consider how EC Law interrelates with the relevant provisions of International Law, in particular the Bucarest Convention to which the European Community should now acceed. It is also important to see how the other BS states that are not members or candidate countries of the EU can comply with international environmental law and how the Bucarest Convention could be upgraded and other Protocols, e.g. an Integrated Costal Zone Management (ICZM) one, adopted.

In addition to all the above, it would be important to address current key issues, as identified in the European Commission ICZM Communication of 7 June 2007, where two priority themes for ICZM at EU level where highlighted.

These are also relevant for the Black Sea:
(1) Adapting to risks and the impacts of climate change and
(2) Regional sea cooperation, including coherence between plans, programmes and management covering the terrestrial and the sea parts of the coastal zones.

Following the adoption on 10 October 2007 of the Commission Communication on "An Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union" ("Blue Paper") these issues become high priorities of the EU together, and include marine spatial planning among the tools to be promoted.

The Conference will be attended by representatives of EU Member States, EU officials, UNEP and Bucharest Convention officials, the Academic Community and NGOs. It will cover, the political, legal, economic and technical aspect in a holistic approach with the view to a sustainable management of the BS. The working language will be English.

Topics
A. Environment
- EU Marine Strategy
- Sustainable use of natural resources
- Cooperation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution / Environmental Liability
- Climate change: Mitigation and adaptation measures in the context of the Black Sea protection
- Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution (Bucharest Convention)
- Water protection and management
- Integrated Coastal Zone Management
- Nature and biodiversity
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Asssessment (SEA)
- EU co-financing for environmental and infrastructure projects
- Environmental management: local and regional dimension

B. Energy
- Energy generation
- Renewable energy resources
- Energy Policies
- Conventional energy networks

C. Transport
- Maritime transport
- Intermodal transport
- Highway transport and construction

D. Fisheries
- Sustainable use of fish resources
- Fishing practices
- Illegal fishing

E. Planning and Environment
- Urban
- Rural
- Cross-border

F. Risc Management

G. Civil Society and Sustainable Development

H. Financial Tools and Investment Opportunities For Sustainable Development

I. Innovations and New Technologies

Key Dates
Deadline for receipt of abstracts (papers and posters) 30 March 2008
Latest notification of acceptance 30 April 2008
Deadline for early registration 15 April 2008

Registration Fees
Delegates 200 Euros
Students 100 Euros (must provide student ID)
Accompanying Persons 100 Euros (must accompany a delegate or student)

The registration fee includes: Participation in the scientific program, Conference printed material, coffee during breaks, light lunches, study tour to the nature protected areas in Trabzon, participation in the Welcome Reception, Opening Ceremony - Gala Dinner.

The registration fee can be deposited to:
A/C Name: MARENPOL 2008
Bank: Vakifbank
Branch: Trabzon (Branch Code: 046)
Account: 00158 007281298511 (YTL)
00158 048000727419 (Euro)

Contact Information
Scientific Secretariat
Dr. Dilek Şen Beyazlı
KTÜ Faculty of Architecture
Departmant of Urban and Regional Planning
Trabzon / Turkey
Email: [email protected]

Administrative Secretariats
Ress.Ass. Sanem Özen Turan
KTÜ Faculty of Architecture
Departmant of Urban and Regional Planning
Trabzon / TURKEY
Tel: +90 462 3774072
Fax: +90 462 3253233
Email: [email protected]

Ress.Ass. Mesut Yeşiltepe
KTÜ Faculty of Architecture
Departmant of Urban and Regional Planning
Trabzon / TURKEY
Tel: +90 462 3774068
Fax: +90 462 3253233
Email: [email protected]

Abstract Submission
You are invited to participate by sending the abstract of your scientific work together with the application form by submitting to the congress web site: http://www.marenpol.com

All accepted papers will be printed in full length in the proceedings book that will be published by the Karadeniz Technical University.

Abstract Submission Guidelines
- Abstracts should be approximately 200 - 400 words
- They should include the title of the presentation (use Capıtal Letters), name(s) of author(s) the presenter underlined and the institution
- The abstract should include: Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results and Conclusions
- At the end of the abstract please include: contact person name, telephone, fax, e-mail and address and type of presentation: oral or poster

Type Of Presentations
Scientific papers selected for presentation will be divided into two groups: Oral Presentations and Poster Presentations.

Oral Presentations: Oral presentations are of 10 minutes duration and must cover the material reported in the abstract. The nature and aim of the presentation should be stated at the opening statement. Results should be stated simply and clearly.

The presentation should be finished with a summary of the essential findings. Only powerpoint projection will be available for the presenters. Presenters are kindly requested to submit their power-point material to the technical secretariat at least 2 hours prior to their presentation, in order to have a rehearsal projection.

Poster presentations: Posters will be on display throughout the whole course of the Conference. Poster dimensions are 100 cm x 150 cm (portrait).