The Black Sea Accords, establishing the Black Sea Association, were agreed to over a number of months during what amounted to secret meetings at the Rhodopian Consulate in Vize, Thrace. Also known as the Treaty of Vize, these accords were agreed to by the negotiating powers, signed, and notarized on the 31st of August, 2011, and took effect the next day, September 1st, 2011.