Theme - News
BackAll news related to Western Balkans Agenda on Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport
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Serbia is the first WB economy to join the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA)
At the ACA General Assembly on 27 and 28 November 2023, two new organisations were approved as full members. They are the Foundation Tempus from Serbia and the Slovak Academic Association for International...
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EIT HEI Initiative extended until 2027
In a landmark decision, the Governing Board of the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT) has officially announced the extension of the EIT HEI Initiative until 2027! The success...
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In Focus: Mapping, monitoring and progress reporting – in service of the Western Balkans
We would like to present one of the core elements of the POLICY ANSWERS project: the analytical activities. We believe that these create a real benefit for the region, and feedbacks from various stakeholders...
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POLICY ANSWERS is building bridges between national/regional priorities and the EU priorities, and providing support for the Western Balkans’ inclusion in relevant EU initiatives and platforms, such as...
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POLICY ANSWERS Pilot Programmes: Five activities for the development of the Region
POLICY ANSWERS implements a set of dedicated, carefully selected activities to support change and increase impact “on the ground” in the Western Balkans. The general objective is to foster participation...
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New Growth Plan for the Western Balkans adopted to accelerate economic convergence with the EU
Commission presented on 8 November a new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans including €6 billion in grants and loans to accelerate economic convergence with the EU.
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What the 2023 Enlargement Package says on Education and Culture
The European Commission released the "2023 Enlargement package" that assesses the progress of economies, including those in the Western Balkans and Turkey, towards EU membership. This assessment focuses...
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What the 2023 Enlargement Package says on Science and Research
The European Commission released the "2023 Enlargement package" that assesses the progress of economies, including those in the Western Balkans and Turkey, towards EU membership. This assessment focuses...
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Member States and Associated Countries are actively supporting New European Innovation Agenda
The Commission published the list of actions that Member State and Associated Countries to Horizon Europe are doing in support of the New European Innovation Agenda (NEIA). This announcement is based ...
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POLICY ANSWERS have published the Monitoring Cards regarding the implementation of the Western Balkans Agenda in September 2023.
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Western Balkans Ranking on Global Innovation Index 2023
Three Western Balkans economies moved up the rankings out of 39 European economies covered in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2023. Serbia and North Macedonia are frontrunners, while Albania advanced...
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Iliana Ivanova was appointed as new European Commissioner
The European Council appointed Iliana Ivanova (Bulgaria) as new European Commissioner on 13 September 2023, by common accord with the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The appointment...
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Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of North Macedonia, in cooperation with the Education Reform Initiative of the South Eastern Europe (ERI SEE) Secretariat, gathered some of region’s ministers...
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On July 6, 2023, the European Commission released the 2023 edition of the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) and the bi-annual edition of the Regional Innovation Scoreboard (RIS). The EIS provides...
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Roundtable on University Libraries and Open Science
The University of Sarajevo hosted an academic event titled "Roundtable on University Libraries and Open Science" on 15 May 15 2023. The purpose of this round table, organised by the Committee for...
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Riinvest Institute’s Conference: Towards advancing R&I environment and its contribution
Continuing its activities within the POLICY ANSWERS project, supported by Horizon Europe, Riinvest Institute organised a conference with stakeholders and a larger audience on 23 May 2023 to present its...
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As of 17 May, the Commission is making €122 million available under the European Innovation Ecosystems initiative of Horizon Europe* and the Interregional Innovation Investment Instrument (I3)** of the...
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The study visit was organised between 25 and 28 May, 2023, organised by the POLICY ANSWERS partners Foundation for Management and Industrial Research (MIR) and Fund for Innovation and Technology Development...
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Mariya Gabriel's shares her thoughts on the Western Balkans Agenda in an interview with CorD
The article by Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner For Innovation, Research, Culture, Education And Youth is titled "Promised And Delivered!" and was published on March 2. The magazine is an independent...
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Western Balkans Steering Platforms meeting successfully held in Skopje on 15-16 Feb. 2023
The Western Balkans Steering Platforms on Education and Training & Research and Innovation met in North Macedonia on 15 - 16 February 2023. The European Commission, the Swedish EU Council Presidency...
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POLICY ANSWERS Info Session on the Western Balkans in Skopje
Info-session on the Western Balkans Agenda for innovation, research, education, culture, youth and sport with representatives of the European Commission in Skopje, part of the POLICY ANSWERS project...
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POLICY ANSWERS presented at the Steering Platform on Research and Innovation
The Meeting of the Western Balkans Steering Platforms on Education and Training & Research and Innovation was held on 15-16 February 2023. The POLICY ANSWERS project had various interventions. Desiree...
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Info Session on the Western Balkans Agenda planned in North Macedonia
As part of the series of regional capacity building efforts within the POLICY ANSWERS project, the stakeholders of North Macedonia are planning a variety of activities to be held in the first half of ...
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Elettra has just opened a call for Scientists from Western Balkans for synchrotron radiation research at its Western Balkans initiative! The calls aims at training promising scientists from WB in techniques...
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European Commission published the Enlargement Package 2022
In the autumn of each year, the European Commission adopts its "Enlargement package" - providing a detailed assessment of the state of play and the progress made by the Western Balkans and Türkiye on ...
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This JRC event will bring together high officials, policy makers, innovation practitioners, representatives from start-ups and SMEs, as well as members of academia, business society and civil organisations...
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Albania part of European Innovation Scoreboard for the first year
The Commission has published on 22. September, the 2022 edition of the European Innovation Scoreboard. The EIS provides a comparative analysis of innovation performance in EU countries, other European...
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How POLICY ANSWERS is planning to award youth innitiatives
POLICY ANSWERS is planning a set of dedicated, carefully selected activities in order to support change and increase impact on the ground in the Western Balkans (WB). These will foster participation in...
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On 27 and 28 June 2022, the Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Platforms on Culture, Research and Innovation, Education and Training took place in Tirana, Albania, with the participation of...
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Videos of the Ministerial Meeting Side Events 2022 in Tirana, Albania now online!
Recordings of the public events and photos of the Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Steering Platfroms on Culture, Research & Innovation, and Education & Training on 27-28 of June 2022...
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[Event Announcement] Commission kick-starts work to make 2022 the European Year of Youth
Following the announcement made by President von der Leyen in her 2021 State of the Union address, the Commission has adopted its formal proposal to make 2022 the European Year of Youth. Europe needs ...
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[Link Announcement] Commission launches the CultureEU funding guide!
On 29 November 2021, the European Commission launched a much-anticipated new tool to support the cultural sector through an online guide for EU funding. It aims to gather all available funding information...
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The following statement was sent us by Mila Carovska, former Minister of Education and Science and now Minister of Labor and Social Policy of the Republic of Macedonia. In her statement Ms Carovska praises...
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The European project, which kicks off on 14 April in Vienna, will work for the next 4 years to support cooperation on innovation, research, education, culture, youth and sport.
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The Prof. Dr. Marijan Hanžeković Trust announces its competition for the award of the annual prize for 2022!
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The Minister for Education and Science of the Republic of North Macedonia, Mila Carovska, kindly shared with us her view about the Western Balkans Agenda for Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, ...
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Five Western Balkan partners join Horizon Europe research and innovation programme
EC News Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia signed on 6 December, alongside Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and...
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Small and medium sized businesses at the heart of Horizon Europe
Businesses can now get EU funding and support for innovation projects that will help them develop and expand into other countries – in Europe and beyond. The funding is available through the EU's Horizon...
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Why the National Contact Points hold the key to success for Horizon Europe
A key to enabling the success of Horizon Europe is the dissemination and distribution of resources and information to potential applicants and beneficiaries. Tasked with a budget of €95.5 billion...
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Founded in late 2016 by Prof. Herwig Schopper, former Director General of CERN and initiator of the major SESAME project in Jordan, The Southeast European International Institute for Sustainable Technologies...
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Open access to JRC Research Infrastructures
The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) opens its scientific laboratories and facilities to people working in academia and research organisations, industry, small and medium enterprises (...
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Balkan Barometer 2021 highlights the added value of regional cooperation
As reported by the EC web news, the 7th edition of the Balkan Barometer 2021 was published on 24 June.
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A large number of proposals were submitted for the first calls of Horizon Europe - Teaming for Excellence (Stage 1) and Horizon Europe - Twinning for Western Balkans. The deadline for submissions was ...
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Results and documentation related to the Brdo Summit
The Summit came after over 19 months of fighting a pandemic. The EU and its Member States have stood by the Western Balkan partners, demonstrating their solidarity with an unprecedented package of €3....
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At the European Union-Western Balkans Summit in Brdo pri Kranju, on 6th October 20121, leaders reaffirmed the region’s European perspective and commitment to the enlargement...
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On 6 October, at the EU-Western Balkans Brdo Summit, the leaders of the European Union and its Member States, together with Western Balkans leaders launched the ‘Western Balkans Agenda on Innovation, ...
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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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Berlin Process Summit 2021 to be held in Berlin
The newsportal European Western Balkans reports that the next Berlin Process Summit will be held in Berlin in 2021. The EWB reportedly had an exclusive insight of the draft version of the Chair’s Conclusions...
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[Event Review] - Virtual meeting of the Foreign Ministers participating in the Berlin Process
On Tuesday, 8 June, as part of the Berlin Process, Foreign Minister Maas hosted a virtual meeting with his counterparts from the six Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo...
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JRC SUPPORT TO TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER IN THE WESTERN BALKANS
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) supports the Western Balkan economies not only in developing their smart specialisation strategies but also at an operational level - through the Competence Centre on Technology...
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COST CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF CONNECTING RESEARCHERS AND INNOVATORS
2021 marks COST’s 50th anniversary! While COST was created on 22-23 November 1971, this special event deserves more than one day to pay tribute...
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Start of the New European Union for Local Development programme - EU PRO Plus
New 30 million Euros in grants for integrated territorial development of 99 local governments in Serbia.
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The future of the Western Balkans lies within the European Union
In the week of 26 April, leaders from the EU and the Western Balkans held a series of meetings and exchanges confirming their mutual strong relations and shared goal of European integration.
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The 5th Subcommittee meeting on topics related to Education, Culture, Youth, Research and Innovation, Information Society and Social Policy between the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) was held...
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NEW EIT INITIATIVE LAUNCHED TO BOOST INNOVATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is launching the HEI Initiative: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education − a new initiative to unlock the full innovation potential ...
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[Call Announcement] 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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The Commission has adopted the first annual work programme of Erasmus+ 2021-2027. With a budget of €26.2 billion, (compared to €14.7 billion for 2014-2020), complemented with about €2.2 billion from EU...
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[Call Announcement] EU Prize for Women Innovators
This prize celebrates the women entrepreneurs behind Europe’s game-changing innovations.
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[Event Announcement] 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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Education roundtable for Albania
On 18 March, Commissioner Gabriel took part in the “Education Round Table for Albania,” which defined new and innovative study programmes for Albania.
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[Call Announcement] First Call for WBAA projects 2021 is open!
For all WBAA members: This is your opportunity to implement and create your own individual WBAA project in your region. This call for projects includes crucial changes in the process of application...
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[Event Announcement] WBAA Friday Evening talk – March,26th – Register now!
In light of the open call for WBAA projects our next Friday talk will host project holders from the online call for projects. If you want to have a nice discussion with them this is the perfect event ...
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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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Bring Western Balkans back on the agenda, urge nine EU member states
Nine EU member states have called on the EU’s chief diplomat, Joseph Borrell, to have a strategic discussion on the Western Balkan countries and their prospects when EU foreign ministers meet in April...
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The Western Balkans in 2035: The future in four scenarios
COVID-19 has caused major disruptions to the Western Balkan economies and the consequences are evident in all parts of society. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are struggling hard and looking...
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Strengthening and connecting eco-systems of science for policy across Europe
Are you working at national, regional, and local level in government, parliament, academia or civil society on improving the use of scientific evidence for policy-making? Would you like to learn ...
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[Link Announcement] The Western Balkans Common Regional Market
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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[Document Announcement] 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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#EUMRSWeek – Save the date, also including Western Balkans!
Save the Date! From 1 to 5 March 2021, DG REGIO will host the 2nd EU Macro-Regional Strategies Week (EU MRS Week) that will take place digitally.
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5th Forum of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) jointly organised by the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the European Commission with the support of the EUSAIR...
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[Call Announcement] Joint Call 2020 (MICall20) on digital transformation for green energy transition
The Joint Programming Platform Smart Energy Systems (JPP SES) in collaboration with the global initiative Mission Innovation is pleased to announce the Joint Call 2020 ("MICall20") on digital transformation...
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EU stakeholders agree on vocational education as way forward in Osnabrück Declaration
The Osnabrück Declaration was agreed by EU stakeholders at a ministerial virtual meeting on 30 November in the context of the German presidency of the European Union.
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What are the vaccination plans of Western Balkan countries in 2021?
As the countries of the Western Balkans strive to secure sufficient supplies of COVID-19 vaccine, many questions remain unanswered – how many will there be, when will vaccination start and how much will...
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The European Commission adopted a package of €70 million under the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA II) to help fund the access of Western Balkans partners to COVID-19 vaccines procured by EU Member ...
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WB Success Stories: HERITAGE HUBS
Heritage Hubs was a two-year project related to the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union. Heritage Hubs brought together 10-16-year...
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WB Success Stories: CRAFTING EUROPE IN THE BRONZE AGE AND TODAY (CRAFTER)
The Bronze Age brought back to life: exploring Europe’s remarkable cultural heritage. The most extraordinary portfolio of Bronze Age artisanship in Europe comprises work from El Argar (south-...
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WB Success Stories: YOUNG EUROPEAN AMBASSADORS (YEAs)
Five Ambassadors and five Attachés from across the Western Balkans coming from different backgrounds, but all are interested in learning about the European Union’s values, connecting and engaging with...
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WB Success Stories: I-PORTUNUS TRIAL A MOBILITY SCHEME FOR ARTISTS AND CULTURE PROFESSIONALS
i-Portunus is a scheme funded by the European Commission that supports the mobility of artists, creators and cultural professionals, implemented by consortia of cultural organisations. It funds ...
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Wb Success Stories: MOST - The Complex Strategy to develop the Balkan World Music Scene
Project ’MOST’ aims to improve the world music market of the Balkans by a complex strategy including audience development, professional training, export support, mobility of artists and professionals, ...
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WB Success Stories: Hub for exchange of music innovation in Central and South-eastern Europe
HEMI aims to provide expertise, consultancy and offer training modules to music professionals in each country of CSEE region, answering to the current and future needs of the sector in the region but ...
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WB SUccess Stories: Stories Behind Cities (Novi Sad, Rijeka and Timisoara)
Stories, narratives, and storytelling are central aspects of all cultures. Stories provide people with a sense of history, a sense of community, a sense of generations, a sensitivity to oral language ...
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WB Success Stories: Reading Balkans: Borders vs. Frontiers
Breaking down barriers through books; the group of refugee writers fighting against fear politics. The crossing of borders for artists, books and ideas is more important than ever before. ‘...
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The Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Platforms on Education and Training & Research and Innovation took place on 2 December 2020 from 9:00 to 16:30 and was hosted by the European Commission...
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Background information In 2020 we commemorate the 17th anniversary of the foundations for the ongoing relations between the European Union and the economies of the Western Balkans laid...
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Press release On Wednesday 2 December, the Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Platforms on Education and Training & Research and Innovation will bring together key stakeholders...
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The European Commission has paid a first instalment of €28 million in non-repayable financial aid to Montenegro. This important budget support assistance is intended for mitigating the economic fallout...
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Gender Action Plan III: towards a gender-equal world
The EU’s new Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in External Relations 2020–2025 (GAP III) aims to accelerate progress on empowering women and girls, and safeguard gains made on gender...
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Call for Papers: Southeastern Europe, Special issue European crises or European Solidarity? The Western Balkans as a testing ground Guest editors: Ljiljana Šarić & Federico Giulio Sicurella European...
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From Dayton to Brussels: Working together for a stable and democratic Bosnia and Herzegovina
25 years ago, the Dayton Peace Agreement ended the bloodiest war in Europe after the Second World War. A devastating conflict that led to genocide, more than 100,000 deaths, and over a million refugees...
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On 9 November 2020, SFIC launched its recent opinion on a “New European Research Area”. Recalling the activities of the last decade and referring to the Commission Communication of 30 September 2020, ...
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The EU bank welcomes commitments made by the Western Balkans countries to roll out the Green Agenda and develop a common regional market. The EIB expressed support for the Economic and Investment...
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HEAL urges regional leaders to implement Green Agenda for Western Balkans
Non-profit organization Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) has urged heads of states of the Western Balkans to adopt and implement the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans in order to prevent ill ...
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State leaders endorse Green Agenda for Western Balkans at Sofia summit
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said countries in Southeastern Europe that intend to join the European Union agreed with its Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. The summit was organized in Sofia...
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Today, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, and Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, are participating by videoconference in...
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On 22 October, Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, and Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, will participate in the EU-Western Balkans ministerial videoconference on Justice and Home ...
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JRC: Science for policy in the Western Balkans
The JRC has a long history of cooperation in the Western Balkans. The Commission moved one step closer to a formal innovation agenda with the region this month, as it launched an Economic and Investment...
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This report provides an overview of education structures and policies that influence equity in school education.
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Increasing cooperation with the Western Balkans
Earlier this year, the EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, had noted at the Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (BSMEPA...
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Joksimovic and Fabrizi: Progress Report and Economic Package in an Important Moment
Last week, Ambassador Sem Fabrizi, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia handed over to Ms. Jadranka Joksimovic, Minister for European Integration, the 2020 European Commission Annual...
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Commissioner Várhelyi: We are ready for further cooperation with BiH and the WB region
The EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi during his visit to Sarajevo presented the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans. He met also with the Chairman of the Council of Ministers...
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Várhelyi presents the Economic and Investment Plan in Skopje
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi presented the Economic and Investment Plan and annual report on North Macedonia to the Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and the President Stevo Pendarovski during...
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EU presents guidelines on Green Agenda for Western Balkans
The Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, envisaged by the European Green Deal, is expected to be endorsed by the Western Balkan leaders at a summit in Sofia, Bulgaria in November, the European Commission...
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Economic Development Gap between the Western Balkans and the EU must be closed faster
“Belgrade, Podgorica, Pristina, Sarajevo, Skopje, Tirana. Six capitals of the Western Balkans, at the heart of Europe, but traveling and trading between them and to other capitals of Europe takes twice...
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Questions and Answers: Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans
Why is the Commission presenting an Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans? The main aim of the Economic and Investment Plan is to spur the long-term economic recovery of the region and...
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Key findings of the 2020 Report on Albania
Political criteria The political environment in Albania continued to be marked by intense polarisation. Parliamentary activities were affected by the opposition relinquishing their mandates. Institutional...
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Key findings of the 2020 Report on North Macedonia
Political criteria North Macedonia continued to implement EU-related reforms throughout the reporting period. Efforts continued to strengthen democracy...
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Key findings of the 2020 Report on Kosovo*
Political criteria The reporting period was marked by early legislative elections, two changes of government and relatively long periods with only a...
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Key findings on the 2020 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina
Political criteria During most of the reporting period the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina was blocked for political reasons, ...
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Key findings of the 2020 Report on Serbia
Political criteria The parliamentary, provincial and municipal elections in Serbia initially foreseen for April were postponed following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and held on 21 June...
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Key findings of the 2020 Report on Montenegro
Political criteria The reporting period was marked by tensions and mistrust between political actors and low level of trust in the electoral framework...
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[Event review] Towards an innovation agenda for the Western Balkans
On September 24, 2020, Western Balkan Ministers and high level panelists from the region took part in the European Research and Innovation Days to discuss the region’s priorities in research and innovation...
