09/09/2026
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ข๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ & ๐๐น๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ๐ ๐
We were honoured to welcome Erica Gerretsen, Director in the European Commissionโs Directorate-General for International Partnerships, to the BCC Secretariat on 07 September 2026. She was accompanied by Arnaud Demoor, the Deputy Head of Climate Change and Sustainable Energy, Hannah Beck the Cooperation Officer for Southern Africa and Tobias Gerster, the Country Director of GIZ Namibia
The introductory meeting was a platform for the Secretariat to present its mandate and to discuss how to deepen collaboration between the European Union, Angola, Namibia, and South Africa to advance sustainable ocean management across the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME). The BCC is currently implementing the Blue Benguela Current Action (BBCA) Project funded by the European Union (EU) and the Federal Germany Government and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fรผr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
During the high-level bilateral meeting, the BCC Executive Secretary, Maria Sardinha, presented an overview of key priorities in the implementation of the Strategic Action Programme and highlighted areas for possible collaboration beyond the BBCA project.
Erica Gerretsen commended the BCC on its work and emphasized need for integrated management approaches that ensure expanding industrial and economic activities are compatible with the protection and preservation of marine ecosystems.
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The meeting ended on a high note and reinforced that the BCC and its global partners remain firmly dedicated to balancing blue growth with environmental stewardship across the BCLME region, towards a resilient, sustainable, and productive marine environment that benefits both local communities and future generations.
