European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, today met with Ministers of Science and Research from six Western Balkans countries (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia). Following the meeting, Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn said: „Today’s meeting with science and research Ministers from the Western Balkan countries provided an excellent opportunity for a fruitful exchange of views. Their association to the EU research framework (FP7) is allowing them to become more familiar with EU research and innovation policy and cooperation. But more needs to be done. I encouraged Ministers to continue their endeavours to raise the political profile of research and innovation at national level, and increase investment in research capacity. This is in line with our efforts to achieve the goals of the Innovation Union flagship initiative and the Horizon 2020 programme.“

For more on the Innovation Union, visit: http://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/index_en.cfm?pg=home