The European Union (EU) seeks to support various initiatives intended to develop the Black Sea region, EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella has said.

The idea is that each country has own challenges in this region and there are common challenges for the whole region, he said at the Third Black Sea Stakeholder conference in Odesa on Tuesday.

Vella said that the EU backs the region in general.

He added that he sees the largest potential for development of the Black Sea region in the tourism industry.

Conference participants discussed the prospects for increasing the region's attractiveness for tourists, scientific cooperation, sustainable use of the Black Sea and other issues.