Abstract
The Black Sea is a major component of the MeditetmneanSea. It is a bridge between two continents and a factor of cohesionamong ancient neighbouring spaces of civilisation. Someof its geographical peculiatities make of it a half-closed sea betweenEurope and Asia. Its link with the Mediterranean is securedby the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles Straits and thencewith the planetaty ocean. So, the Black Sea ports represent actualgateways to the world for its tiverain countries. These portsboomed or waned in terms of the riverain regions' hist01y. After1990, and moreover after the Soviet Union fell apatt and newsovereign states came into being, the Pontic space has been undergoingmajor geopolitical changes. Traffic suffered radicalchanges, being governed by fresh criteria and directions. Thereis growing competition among the city-ports and, under the1992 Black Sea Economic Co-operation Treaty, new regionaldevelopment opportunities have been cropping up for the individualstates. Viewed at global scale, the Black Sea might play,if integrated into an adequate programme, an essential role ofcohesion and stability in a complex European zone with a histOtyfull of turmoil.References
Bratianu Gh. (1988), M area Neagrii, Edit. Meridiane, I,
II, Bucure§ti.
Bucur I. (1996), Constantza Metropolitan Zone City and
Free Port Competitiveness, Rotterdam, I.H.S.
Deica P., Alexandrescu Valeria (1995), M area Meagriiun
unicatgeografic, Timpul in 7 zile, 2 (213), Bucure§ti.
Deica P., Alexandrescu Valeria (1995), Comunitatea
economicii a Miirii Negre, Timpul in 7 zile, 3 (214),
Bucure§ti.
Graute U., coordinator (1998), Sustainable Development
for Central and Estem Europe. Spatial Development
in the European Context, Springer - Verlag,
Berlin.
Rey Violette, Brunet R. (1996), Europe Orientales, Russie,
Asie Centra/e. Collection Geographie Universelle,
Berlin/Reclus, Paris.
Tietze W., co-ordinator, (1998), Transrapid-Verkehr in
Europa. Eine vision fur das 21. Jahrhundert, Geocolleg,
, Gebriider Borntraeger Berlin.
Urucu Veselina (1997), Marea Neagrii, Lumea Magazin,
, Bucure§ti.
Urucu Veselina, Buza M. (1997), Canalele duniirene,
Comunidii de geografie, Edit. Universitatii din Bucuresti.
(1997), Annual Report 1996-1997, Constanta Port
Administration.
(1964), Kratkaia geografitseskaya entziklopedya, 1-V,
Edit. Sovetskaya Enziklopediya, Moskva.