The Black Sea countries, Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, the Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine, signed the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (Bucharest Convention) on 21 April 1992 and Black Sea Strategic Action Plan on 31 October 1996. October 31 has been celebrated as the International Black Sea Action Day by the Black Sea countries every year since 1996. This plan defined the policy measures, actions, and timetables required to achieve the environmental objectives of the Bucharest Convention. The Black Sea Strategic Action Plan recognises that collective action is required from all Black Sea countries to reduce the impacts of pollution on the Black Sea ecosystem. International Black Sea Action Day is a regional activity designed to raise public awareness of the need for regional cooperation necessary for the protection of the Black Sea. It is celebrated in the six riparian countries simultaneously.
