Marmara-EU (MarmaraAB) Platform, led by Union of Municipalities of Marmara (UMM), gathered in Istanbul on 25 May 2009. The topic of the meeting has been the cross-border cooperation with particular focus on the "Bulgaria-Turkey Cross-Border Co-operation Programme" and "Black Sea Cross-Border Cooperation Programme".

Speaking at the meeting, Mrs Füsun Çiçekoğlu, Head of Regional Development and Cross-Border Cooperation Section at the EC Delegation in Ankara, gave an overview of the content, eligibility conditions, strategies, aims, budget, work programme and administrative structure of the programmes to the representatives of various municipalities and NGOs.

The objective of "Cross-Border Cooperation in the Black Sea Basin" program can be summarised as to promote the economic and social development in the region; to work together in cooperation against the common challenges; to develop inter-municipal and regional cooperation.

Source: http://www.marmara.gov.tr/newsdetail.aspx?newsId=333