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Press Release | Wednesday, 22 July 2015

Perspectives for the science systems of the Western Balkan countries

First Joint Science Conference meets at the German National Academy Leopoldina

Following a consequent path towards the European Union membership is an important prerequisite for the further positive development of the science systems in the Balkan countries. This in one of the results of the first Joint Science Conference Western Balkans, which was held at the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in Halle and in Berlin from 15 to 17 July 2015. The conference is part of the Intergovernmental Initiative Western Balkans, which was brought into life by the German Federal Government, with the participation of the Southeast European countries including Croatia and Slovenia, as well as Austria, France, Italy and the EU Commission. The initiative aims at developing strategies for international cooperation in and with the Western Balkans in the areas of politics, economy, science and society. In agreement with the German Federal Government, the Leopoldina has taken over the initiative in the priority area dedicated to science and society.

The participants of the conference – national academies, rectors’ conferences and distinguished scientists ad personam – as well as (with observer status) representatives of the German Federal Government, the EU Commission and the embassies of the participating countries to Germany, discussed current challenges for the science systems in the Western Balkans. Several issues were identified, such as the financing of research and universities, PhD formation, emigration of qualified scientists (brain drain), obstacles for access to EU-funding for research as well as shortcomings in the internationalisation of universities and research institutes.

The results of the conference will be summarised in a joint statement on the further development of the science systems and the enhancement of cooperation with and in the Western Balkans. These policy recommendations will be fed into the consultations of the heads of government at the next Western Balkans Summit in Vienna on 26 and 27 August 2015. It was agreed that the meetings of the Joint Science Conference will be continued until 2018 with annual conferences of all participating countries and institutions.

The Western Balkan region encompasses Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia have already the status of EU-candidate countries. Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Kosovo are potential candidates, with whom accession negotiations have not yet been initiated.

The first Joint Science Conference of the Intergovernmental Initiative Western Balkans was organised by the Leopoldina in close cooperation with the German Federal Chancellery, the German Federal Foreign Office, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation.

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