The Western Balkans Working Group on Research and Development (R&D) is to take place in Brussels on 13 June 2018. The first two sessions of the Working Group will focus on the topics of FP9 (European Commission’s the framework programme that will succeed Horizon 2020) and Western Balkans (WB) participation in it, as well as the upcoming Open Science Report prepared by Directorate-general for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), which for the first time will include a section on the Western Balkans.                     

In addition, the afternoon sessions will provide an opportunity to discuss the current participation of the WB six in existing mobility schemes as well as address the framework for developing capacity of researchers to participate successfully in the existing EU programmes. The meeting will also facilitate networking between EURAXESS offices in the region.

The leaders of the Western Balkans Six have recognised the importance of mobility in the region in general, and mobility of researchers in particular, under the Mobility pillar of the Multiannual Action Plan on the Regional Economic Area (MAP REA) and have committed to remove obstacles to the mobility of researchers in the region by 2020.