The European Union has recently announced the preparation of a comprehensive, long-term strategy for cooperation with the Western Balkan region entitled "Western Balkans Agenda on Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport".

As stated by EC officials on numerous occasions, the Western Balkan region is a strategic priority for the EU.   Through increased investments in Research, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, the Western Balkans Agenda and its proposed actions will contribute to the region’s economic and societal development and cooperation. Main goal of this strategy at hand is to foster the stability and prosperity in the region, taking into account the effects of COVID-19 as well as forward-looking transition towards digital and green economy that works for people.

The Agenda on Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport and its Action Plan will build on three main pillars:

1. Political Agenda, which entails accession negotiations, association processes (Horizon Europe, Erasmus and European Solidarity Corps, Creative Europe) and integration processes (European Research Area), finalisation of Smart Specialisation Strategies, stronger participation in the European Higher Education Area as well as systemic changes and reforms towards building knowledge-based societies and evidence-based policy making
2. Thematic Agenda, which focuses on fostering national research and innovation systems with dedication to tackling climate change and digital transformation
3. Regional Agenda, which will direct new investments towards game-changing innovations, as well as actions that create sustainable and human capital development and a digital future with following main priorities:
   • Increase investment in SMEs and their capacity to innovate, scale-up and grow
   • Foster research, innovation, education and vocational training capacity building
   • Deepen Economic Union by linking the Western Balkan economies and bringing them closer to the European ones
   • Foster the Western Balkans transition to sustainability.
   • Regional cooperation and people-to-people exchanges

The Joint Declaration “A Western Balkans Agenda on Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport” has been accompanied by a document which presents the specific objectives, priorities and a tentative roadmap of key actions of this Agenda.

A longer–term, robust Economic and Investment Plan for the region has been announced building on a total envelope for the Pre-Accession Instrument III (IPA III) of EUR 9 billion for the 2021-2027 period, plus a further EUR 20 billion potentially raised through the new Western Balkans Guarantee facility.