Western Balkans

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

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News archive - WBC-INCO.NET: Workpackage 1 supporting the Steering Platform

As of January 1, 2008, the work of the Steering Platform on Research for the Western Balkan Countries (WBC) will be supported by the project “Western Balkan Countries INCO.NET” (WBC-INCO.NET), carried out under the specific programme “Capacities” of the 7th EU-Framework Programme (FP7). WBC-INCO.NET’s core objectives are to support bi-regional dialogue between the EU, associated FP7 countries and the WBC, to identify RTD priorities and potentials in the WBC and to enhance the participation of WBC researchers in European RTD projects by structural measures. A consortium of 26 partners will carry out 7 Workpackages (WPs) during the 4 year duration of the project.

Named “European and Regional Dialogue”, WP1 will provide organisational support for the implementation of regional and bi-regional political dialogue between the EU and the WBC. The political dimension on the bi-regional level is closely connected with the Steering Platform on Research for the WBC, initiated during the Austrian EU Presidency together with the European Commission (EC) in 2006. WBC-INCO.NET will also support the exchange of information with relevant EC Directorates General (DGs) as well as other international stakeholders.
Within WP1 the organisation of eight meetings of the Steering Platform on Research for the WBC (bi-regional dialogue) and four high level political regional S&T meetings (regional political dialogue) back-to back with the meetings of the WBC-INCO.NET Steering Board will be supported. Moreover, the WBC-INCO.NET will enter into a proactive dialogue with the EC on Directorate Generals level and organise yearly meetings with relevant DGs (e.g. DG Enlargement, DG Information Society, DG TREN, DG Education etc.). In addition, WP1 will initiate exchange of information with international stakeholders as well as other multilateral initiatives, strategic programmes and projects (e.g. COST, UNESCO, World Bank, OECD, relevant ERA-NETs and specific support actions (SSAs) that target WBCs in a structural manner as well as other initiatives outside FP7 such as CEEN). Therefore, three round tables will be organised.
WP1 will be led by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Research (BMWF), which will coordinate the activities of the four task leaders: Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI - Austria), Ministry of Education and Science of Montenegro (MPIN), Turkish Research and Business Organisations (TURBO) and the Project Management Agency at the International Bureau of the German Aerospace Center (PT-DLR).
WBC-INCO.NET will be closely linked to the Steering Platform on Research for the WBC and therefore both initiatives will positively influence and complement each other.
Another benefit of WBC-INCO.NET is that it will also build a stable future basis for the Information Office of the Steering Platform on Research for the Western Balkan Countries.
The kick-off meeting of WBC-INCO.NET will be held in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Feb. 1, 2008.

Article published in see-science.eu eJournal fall/winter 2007.