Rebuilding Scientific Co-operation in South East Europe". UNESCO, Paris, France. 24 Oct. 2001
The Round Table of Ministers of Science on "Rebuilding Scientific Co-operation in South East Europe", 24 October 2001, Paris (France) is the follow-up of the International Conference of Experts on Reconstruction of the Scientific Co-operation in Southeast Europe organized in Venice, Italy, from 24 to 27 March 2001, which aimed at contributing to the establishment of new links and forms of co-operation, in relevant scientific fields, among the SEE countries and between them and the rest of Europe, and thus to help settle the political, economic and social situation of the region.
The efforts of the international community for rehabilitation/recovery and development assistance within the Southeast Europe (SEE) region have been organized so far under different frameworks, among which the Stability Pactand the Ancona Declaration on the Adriatic and Ionian Area are important steps.
The European Commission has put forward the EU’s Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development as a major tool to support the creation of the European Research Area. The central observation on which the European Research Area initiative is founded was that research in Europe is not only diverse but also highly fragmented. Reinforced action in the Balkans has been recently underlined by the European Commission as an important step of the EU enlargement.
Two years ago (26 June-1 July 1999), UNESCO together with the International Council for Science (ICSU) held the World Conference on Science in Budapest (Hungary). The Conference adopted two basic documents: Declaration on Science and the Use of Scientific Knowledge, and Science Agenda – Framework for Action. The latter stressed that: “One of the greatest challenges facing the world community in the next century will be the attainment of sustainable development, calling for balanced interrelated policies aimed at economic growth, poverty reduction, human well-being, social equity and protection of the Earth’s resources and life-support systems.”[...]