Brussels, 01/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 1 July, the European Commission signed association agreements with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, and with the Republic of Moldova with a view to their participation in the research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020 (2014-2020).
These agreements extend cooperation already established in the previous framework programme (2007-2013). Even though the signing of the agreement has come only in July, seven months after the launch of the Horizon 2020 programme, the countries will be able to benefit retroactively from funding opportunities. European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Maire Geoghegan-Quinn said: “Association to Horizon 2020 will facilitate the mobility of excellent scientists, strengthen national research systems, and help the countries integrate into the European Research Area”. The Commission stated that the fact that these agreements have been signed in time by all the different parties should help to facilitate possibilities for developing regional cooperation. (JK)