Bosnia and Herzegovina: 2011 Progress Report and Country Conclusions

The overall conclusions on BiH in the fields interesting for WBC-INCO.NET read as follows:

Bosnia and Herzegovina made some progress with the enforcement of competition rules. There was no progress in the area of public procurement, particularly regarding full alignment of the Public Procurement Law. Progress continued in the area of intellectual property rights. There was little progress in the area of social and employment policies and public health policy. Country-wide strategy papers exist or are being prepared, but policies and  legislation remain fragmented. Framework laws and strategies are in place in the field of education but implementation is pending. Some progress was made on culture. Progress continued in the field of research and preparations for the Innovation Union started. Negotiations to join the World Trade Organisation further advanced.
Bosnia and Herzegovina made little progress towards meeting European standards on a number of sectoral policies. Regarding industry and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), a country development strategy including industrial policy elements remains to be adopted and the SME strategy implemented.

In more details, the report informs:

4.1.9. Education and research

...

Some progress was made in the area of research and innovation policy. Participation in the
Seventh EU Research Framework Programme (FP7) slightly increased. Cooperation with COST and EUREKA started. The Ministry of Civil Affairs provided financial assistance for Entities preparing projects for FP7, COST and EUREKA. However, the administrative and research capacity to fully take advantage of association to FP7 and the means to actively stimulate the scientific community remained weak. Participation and success rate in Marie Curie actions is weak as well as the involvement of the private sector.

Some efforts were made to integrate into the European Research Area (ERA) and contribute to the Innovation Union (IU). The country joined the EURAXESS network aiming at mobility of researchers; the bridgehead organisation coordinating the national EURAXESS network was established at the University Banja Luka. The funding slightly increased mainly for researchers, modernization of infrastructure and equipment and publications notably by joining the COBISS library-information system. Republika Srpska and other Entities increased investment in research and development. However, overall, investment in research remained low, in particular by the private sector. As Entities and Cantons fund their policies through their budgets, it is difficult to streamline research policies and avoid fragmentation, one of the key ERA objectives. Accurate statistics on science and technology are missing.

Overall, alignment with European standards in the areas of education and culture is at an early stage. Strategies and framework laws need to be implemented and the Baseline Qualifications Framework to be further developed and implemented. State-level agencies for education and quality assurance structures need to be made operational. The country's participation in the Culture Programme contributes to the implementation of the EU acquis. In the area of research and innovation, preparations for future integration into the ERA and the Innovation Union started but serious efforts remain to be made and close monitoring is required.

 

Language

English

Publication Year

2011

Source

European Commission

Geographical focus
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
Attachments

Entry created by Elke Dall on October 12, 2011
Modified on October 12, 2011