Croatia – eligible for Framework
The move is seen as an important staging post in the process of applying to join the EU, allowing scientists, universities and companies to create links with their counterparts across Europe and build up their scientific expertise, including that in scientific fields crucial to implementing EU legislation.
“I am pleased to see the doors of the European Research Area are wide open for all the Western Balkan Countries,” said Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potočnik. “Research cooperation with Europe’s scientific community is a tool which can smooth the way for the integration process of candidate and potential candidate countries into the European Union.”
Associate status means that these countries can compete in the Framework Programme on the same basis as EU members.
Further expansion is imminent: Montenegro has requested Framework associated status and Albania and Bosnia & Herzegovina are also expected to join soon. In addition, association agreements with Israel and Switzerland are expected to be signed the coming weeks.
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