possibilities for preventing pollution in the Black Sea: An assessment of the Black Sea environmental regimes and a comparative analysis with the Mediterranean regime

This thesis evaluates the possibilities of international cooperation for the protection of the Black Sea environment and examines the environmental policies of the littoral states within the framework of international environmental regimes. The Black Sea, a semi-enclosed and ecologically isolated body of water, has long been subjected to intense pollution pressures. Environmental degradation resulting from industrial, agricultural, and domestic waste, as well as ballast water and other human activities, pose a serious threat to the ecosystem of the region and the socio-economic fabric of the littoral states. In this study, the main factors contributing to the pollution in question are explained; the extent to which the environmental priorities of the coastal states are reflected in the protection of the Black Sea, as well as the effectiveness of the implemented environmental policies and international cooperation efforts in preventing and reducing pollution, are questioned. In addition, the potential environmental and political risks that may arise if these efforts prove insufficient are analyzed, and the structural and institutional conditions necessary for establishing a successful environmental regime are identified. The main research question of the thesis is: Is the Bucharest Convention an adequate regime for combating pollution in the Black Sea? In this context, it also examines how, compared to the Barcelona Convention, this regime can contribute to the development of more effective environmental policies and governance practices for the littoral states. Within this framework, the environmental policies regarding the Black Sea, the international agreements in force, and the impacts of these agreements are examined through comparative analysis, with a specific focus on the Barcelona Convention and Bucharest Convention. As a result, it is concluded that the current environmental regimes are insufficient to ensure environmental security in the Black Sea, and that more functional, inclusive, and equitable models of cooperation are needed to protect the region.