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This study was commissioned as part of the project “Civil Society and Think Tank Forum 2024” in the framework of the Berlin Process, implemented by the Southeast Europe Association and the Aspen Institute Germany with generous support by the German Federal Foreign Office. The facts and opinions expressed in this publication do not reflect the views of the Southeast Europe Association, the Aspen Institute Germany, or the German Federal Foreign Office.
The Berlin Process (see glossary for more details) is a flexible structure for coordination between the Western Balkans and EU Member States on key topics, including for example – as also outlined in this stocktaking report:
- Regional Economic Cooperation, Transport, and Connectivity
- Societal Cooperation
- Political and Security Cooperation
- Foreign Policy
- Energy Security and Green Transition
- Science and Research
In the interim stocktaking about the area of “Science and Research” the authors write:
Interim Stocktaking
Science and research is a policy area that needs to be further promoted within the Berlin Process. The major outcome in this policy area – the BP Joint Science Conference – are held regularly, providing contributions to the BP summits on the topics selected by the German National Academy of Sciences – Leopoldina in consultation with the other stakeholders.
Apart from the conference and results being shared at the BP annual summits, no evidence was available about closer partnership of the BP scientific cohort with the decision-makers of the BP. In addition, the dialogue between political and non-political stakeholders of the education and science system should be further advanced on a national level in the WB countries and with the EC in specific EU frameworks.
In this context, further efforts are needed to tap the potential of the scientific community gathered by Leopoldina and to channel their knowledge and expertise within the larger scope of BP outputs and events.
Leopoldina’s cooperation with the EC towards ensuring full access of the WB6 to the EU research and innovation programs could be considered as strategically significant for the EU accession of the region. It follows the paradigm of ensuring as much access as possible to EU funding and EU (policy) frameworks even before full membership. In this respect, BP political efforts for setting additional regional initiatives should be adjusted to the ongoing EU or regional programs in terms of increasing the prospects of BP initiatives. Increasing the level of available information about the science and research developments within BP is necessary, given the outstanding importance of this area as a crosscutting issue for economic and social development of the region.
Please find and download the report here: https://wb-csf.eu/docs/24114_ASPEN_SOG_STUDY_GESAMTDIGITAL_241210.pdf.pdf