Western Balkans Agenda on Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport
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:
- 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
- Thematic Agenda, which focuses on fostering national research and innovation systems with dedication to tackling climate change and digital transformation
- 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.
News
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[Document Announcement] UNESCO Science Report: Southeast Europe (Chapter 10)
For countries in Southeast Europe (chapter 10), integrating the European Union (EU) remains an overarching policy goal. There are some positive signs: the region has surpassed its target for the number...
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EIT launches its Strategic Innovation Agenda for 2021-2027
On 14 June 2021, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) officially launched its Strategic Innovation Agenda (SIA) for 2021-2027. With an enhanced mandate for the coming years and a ...
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Launch of Western Balkans Cultural Cooperation Projects
On 19 May, Commissioner Gabriel took part in the official launch of 13 cultural cooperation projects between the EU and the Western Balkans, where she was joined by Commissioner Várhely. Selected under...
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Events
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Info Session omn EIT HEI Initiative: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education
HEI Initiative: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education was launched by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and is led by EIT RawMaterials ‐ one of the EIT's Knowledge ...
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Info Session omn EIT HEI Initiative: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education
HEI Initiative: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education was launched by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and is led by EIT RawMaterials ‐ one of the EIT's Knowledge ...
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EIT Culture & Creativity - Webinar on new innovation opportunities
21 April 14:00 - 15:30. Do you want to join Europe’s largest innovation network? A new opportunity for Cultural & Creative Sectors and Industries stakeholders is on the EIT horizon!
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Calls
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EIT Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education: Pilot Call for Proposals
As part of HEI Initiative: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education, the EIT has announced a Pilot Call for Proposals, inviting higher education institutions to design activities that will improve...
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The European Capital of Innovation Awards
An annual recognition prize awarded to the European cities that best promote innovation in their communities
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This prize celebrates the women entrepreneurs behind Europe’s game-changing innovations
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Documents
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UNESCO Science Report: Southeast Europe (Chapter 10)
For countries in Southeast Europe (chapter 10), integrating the European Union (EU) remains an overarching policy goal. There are some positive signs: the region has surpassed its target for the number...
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In this policy brief, we study the development of trade integration, specifically the participation in global value chains, of the Western Balkan countries.
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Education in the Western Balkans
The Western Balkans region has clear aspirations to improve its economic competitiveness and integrate further into Europe
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Links
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https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/policy/common-regional-market_en
The Western Balkans Common Regional Market – a catalyst for deeper regional economic integration and a stepping stone towards EU Single Market At the Sofia Summit on 10 November 2020, the leaders of...
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Education and Training Monitor 2020
The Education and Training Monitor 2020 presents European Commission’s yearly evaluation of education and training system across Europe. The report brings together the latest data, technical papers and...
Projects
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The project’s i-MareCulture scope is to raise public awareness of European identity by focusing in maritime cultural heritage, which by default bridges different civilizations. In particular, i-MareCulture...
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INNOFEIT - Center for Technology Transfer and Innovations
Having recognized the need for more tight cooperation between the academia and the industry, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies (FEEIT), as a part of the Ss. Cyril and ...
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EIT Raw Materials - WB related activities
The EIT Raw Materials aims at turning the EU raw material sector into major strength focusing on the metallic and mineral raw materials along the entire value chain. EIT Raw Materials is well established...
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