The White Paper – a policy paper

to contribute to the integration

process of the WBC in the ERA

Dr. Erika Rost, Dr. Andreas KahleFederal Ministry of Education and Research

Ljubljana, June 13, 2008

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Starting points and milestones

Policy framework: EU-Balkan Countries Action Plan adopted

at the EU summit in Thessaloniki 2003 to give the WBC an

European perspective Steering Platform on Research for the WBC (Vienna 2006) On the road to the EU: Description of the current state of S&T

in the Western Balkan countries S&T Cooperation between EU Member States and

Western Balkan countries SEE-ERA.net: A first and major result was a successful set-up

of a “Pilot Joint Call” in 2007

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White Paper: The concept White Paper

offers strategic recommendations and implementation scenarios

for connecting the research communities of the WBC to their

counterparts throughout Europe

deals with overlaps, gaps and opportunities with regard to the

extension of bilateral RTD programmes and initiatives towards

multilateral approaches

Supplemented by: Joint Action Plan includes concrete implementation scenarios of what can be done basis for the implementation of a regional RTD programme ReP-SEE: proposed by the SEE-ERA.net consortium to provide

a unique instrument for an enhanced S&T coop. with the WBCs

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White Paper: The aims

Describing the challenge: Starting points, motivation and goals

of an enhanced cooperation with the WBC Major objectives are: Improvement of human capacity building,

international mobility, fostering of the innovation potential in the

WBC The White Paper indicates of how the WBC can use the full

potential of the EU framework programmes on RTD (FP 7), S&T

Infrastructure, Institution Building Coherent and coordinated approaches to finally prepare the

ground for a full integration of the WBC in the ERA

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White Paper: The aims (cont.)

Getting operational: Joint Action Plan plays a vital role for the

implementation procedure Core element of Joint Action Plan: ReP-SEE In summary: Includes the cooperation with other stakeholders

and concrete implementation scenarios

Next step: Who is going to implement the proposed measures

given in the White Paper?

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Stakeholders

Western Balkan countries EU Member States European Commission Joint Research Centre Steering Platform SEE-ERA.NET Other …

The list is not closed! Other stakeholders are invited to join!

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Approaches, expectations, tasks

Example:

Stakeholder: European Commission Better and more effective use of Community instruments Dialogue and assistance for the Bologna process, exchange

programmes, science management training, etc. Giving support of evaluation and benchmarking

Consideration of specific interests and needs of the

Western Balkan countries from their point of view

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Approaches, expectations, tasks (cont.)

All Stakeholders

Stimulate dialogue process Promote interaction and synergies between stakeholders Foster interaction and synergies between WBC Raise visibility of the concerns of the region

Message: We would like you to join in order to contribute to

the integration process of the WBC in the ERA!

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Thank you very much for your attention!