Report Ten years of the Berlin Process for the Western Balkans

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This year, the Berlin Process is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a German chair. This intergovernmental initiative, launched by the German government, now includes 16 European countries. Its aim is to integrate the six Western Balkan countries Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia into the European Union (EU). On behalf of the German government, the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina is responsible for “Education, Science and Innovation”. The designated format for this is the “Joint Science Conference of the Berlin Process”.

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With the motto “into the future with courage” the eighth assembly of this conference took place on 30 September and 1 October 2024 at the Berlin State Library. More than 60 leaders of scientific institutions and experts from the 16 countries of the Berlin Process took part.
They developed a joint science policy position for the stronger integration of the Western Balkans into EU structures and programmes for education, research and innovation. Another key topic was the so-called “third mission” of education, science and culture. With regard to threats to democracy, safe spaces for dialogue were called for so that the socio-political benefits of science and culture can be achieved.

In his keynote address Leopoldina President, Gerald Haug, stressed that the success of the Berlin Process is based on the commitment of all of the partners. The confidential exchange and selfreflection that are commonplace in science are combined with evidence-based advice. Cooperation with the political sphere also plays an important role in this act of scientific diplomacy. According to Haug, after ten years, “it is no longer just about science for diplomacy, today it’s also about science for democracy and science for good politics”.

The German Minister of Education and Research, Bettina Stark-Watzinger, delivered an encouraging message: Germany would remain at the side of the Western Balkans, also in international scientific cooperation. A strong, unified Europe requires cohesion in freedom as well as sustainable progress based on excellent education, research and innovation.

Hermann Parzinger, President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, emphasised the importance of the Western Balkans for Europe’s cultural identity and “completeness”. This has been a continuous thread throughout history to the present day, regardless of the challenges faced.
At the end of the conference Kai Gehring, Chairperson of the Committee on Education, Research and Technology Assessment of the German Parliament, invited the participants to the Paul-Löbe-Haus to exchange views on the outcomes of the conference. These were used as recommendations in the preparation of the Western Balkans Summit of Heads of State and Government which took place at the invitation of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on 14 October, also in Berlin

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