Launched in 2012, this is the EU's initiative for cooperation in education with Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia.

The Director-General of EAC Chairs the annual Ministerial meetings which identify common priorities, discuss latest policy and reform measures and decide on topics for regional cooperation with EU assistance.

What has been done so far?

To date, the platform has resulted in a number of outputs, including:

• A 2016 progress report

• Ministerial meetings:
  • 1st Ministerial meeting in Danilovgrad, 07 March 2012
  • 2nd Ministerial meeting in Turin, 07 May 2013
  • 3rd Ministerial meeting in Brussels, 19-20 June 2014
  • 4th Ministerial meeting  in Vlora, 02-03 July 2015
  • 5th Ministerial meeting  in Sarajevo, 27-28 June 2016

• Activities including:
  • Regional conference on higher education, 20-21 November 2012
  • Study on teacher training in the Western Balkans
  • Regional seminar on teacher training, 19-20 November 2013
  • Regional conference on Erasmus+, 17-18 January 2014
  • Regional conference on the role and impact of EU higher education programmes, 30-31 October 2014
  • Erasmus+ Contact Seminar with the Western Balkans, 17-18 December 2015
  • Study on higher education provision and labour market opportunities in the Western Balkans
  • A database of higher education provision in the Western Balkans
  • First structured dialogue on a Western Balkans Regional Alumni Association, 3-4 November 2016

What are the next steps?

Setting-up of a Regional Alumni Association bringing together alumni and students from the Western Balkans.

Source: Western Balkans Platform on Education and Training