With Slovenian presidency, Montenegro was the first WBC co-chairing partner. In Montenegrin delegation we deeply hope that the co-chairing in WBCs to the Platform meeting reinforces our readiness to contribute to the maximum possible extent to ERA and proves the commitment of the European Commission (EC) to help the region along their road of progress. Five years ago cooperation within this region and between this region and the rest of Europe hardly existed. Now, the Steering Platform is just one of the joint initiatives that emerged from that time on. During the four month process, the Montenegrin representative from the Ministry of Education and Science was actively involved in the development of the agenda together with the EC representatives and the Slovenian Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology. The common effort was to highlight the most actual issues concerning WBCs and the cooperation with WBCs, like the SEE-ERA.NET White Paper and the Joint Action Plan presentation, the possibilities under IPA and the ESFRI-state of play, as well as cooperation opportunities for WBCs under EUREKA. The aspects of the partnership were evident in the frame of the achievements of WBCs during the last five years. The successful beginning of the ERA integration of WBCs by the rapid process of FP7 association was the base for very clear suggestions of further integration possibilities. The possibilities of using the Multi-Beneficiary IPA funds that were discussed at the Steering Platform meeting were strongly supported even in the Science, Higher Education and Policy Forum held in Montenegro in July 2008 organised by UNESCO and the Montenegrin Ministry of Education and Science. The respective visit of Mr. Potocnik to Montenegro and his participation in the forum was the opportunity to elaborate further possibilities of WBCs in FP7 and all the novelties that WBCs might face after the process of association.
What we have learned from our experience is that we all have to plan Steering Platform meetings with much more space for assessment, inputs and conclusions.

Additionally, we have learned that the WBCs should neglect their almost passive role and take the initiative with clear demands towards the Member States concerning their programmes for the cooperation with the WBCs. The needs of the WBCs, even in the participants’ list creation, new ideas like regional centers of excellence or large equipment access should be stated in a precise way, but with an active role of the WBCs themselves.

Anyway, regional dialogue meetings within WBC-INCO.NET are our excellent future opportunity for dialogue between ourselves with the scope to define the common goals.

By Mira Vukcevic, Ministry of Education and Science of Montenegro

Published in the e-journal autumn 2008.