Based on the achievements of EMBLAS-I, namely to help improve indicator based reporting
of the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution, develop a list of
compliance indicators. The issues related to indicator development shall be further
developed.
The EMBLAS PRoject will continue support to development of common approaches to
marine environment protection that are harmonized with the relevant EU legislation
principles (MSFD, WFD and Habitats Directive). Further development of compliance reporting
indicators in the Advisory Groups of the Black Sea Commission shall be supported.
Work on the Regional Methodology for the Black Sea on "Water Quality/GES Classification",
initiated during EMBLAS -I will continue in EMBLAS-II. Adoption and wider application
of the methodology will be supported and pursued.

The overall aim of this PA isto support the revision of the Black Sea national
and regional Black Sea Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programmes (BSIMAP)
in Georgia, Ukraine and the Russian Federation. In this context EMBLAS-I carried
out a number of preparatory activities that were intended to pave the way to a swift
and extended implementation of MSFD- and WFD-compliant biological and chemical
monitoring programmes in the project beneficiary countries.
EMBLAS-II shall support the collection of sufficient, quality controlled and comparable
data sets for the assessment of the Black Sea environmental status. The revised
programmes will include an updated list of mandatory and optional parameters
to be monitored taking into consideration the needs stemming from the implementation
of the MSFD and WFD so that the programmes of EU and non-EU member states
in the Black Sea region are harmonised.
These programmes will be designed with a view to ensure appropriate coverage,
relevant frequency, and longer term of implementation perspectives (at least 10 years).

Based on the activities of the previous phase, EMBLAS-II will systematically implement
training programmes on monitoring methods and the respective QA/QC procedures in all
partner countries. On-site training in the identified Black Sea Reference Laboratories will
be privileged in this second phase.
It is foreseen that trainings on descriptors employing methods for biological monitoring
of marine ecosystems (collecting and processing samples of phytoplankton, zooplankton,
macrophytes and zoobenthos) would be carried out at IMB in Odessa with the expected
participation of national experts (who will be) responsible for conducting national monitoring
in their respective countries. The same applies for training of ichtyologists foreseen to be
organised by NEA in Georgia.

The Joint Black Sea Surveys Methodology developed during the EMBLAS-I will be
tested within two Joint Open Sea Surveys planned in June 2016 and June 2017.
The surveys will allow collection of valuable data, which will be included into
the Black Sea Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Program (BSIMAP) to facilitate
the Black Sea environmental assessment and ensure sustainability of regional cooperation
in the Black Sea monitoring. The Joint Open Sea Surveys will be carried out back to back
with the large scale National Pilot Monitoring Studies (Project Activity 2).

After a planning and testing phase, the prototype will be put online and its systematic use
and feeding by partner countries’ stakeholders will be encouraged.
In the Black Sea region progress is gradually being made in this field through the exchange of
environmental data/data products, also under influence of many national,
regional and European projects and initiatives.
However, formalising data sharing at the regional level based on a network wider than
the one existing at the BSC level (with the aim to improve the official data/information flow
to BSIS) is in a need of advancement. Therefore, the use of the BS WQD will be promoted
as a data and information management tool to serve the purposes of a shared approach
to common environmental challenges

The overall aim of this PA is to develop the Project ownership, visibility,
ensure targeted as well as wide dissemination of the project deliverables and outputs.
The project donors and implementing agencies shall have a visibility not less than that of the project itself.
The implementation of this activity aims to ensure lasting effect and impact
of the project activities, deliverables and outputs following its formal completion.
By ensuring these, further follow up activities can be developed and implemented.