annual report on implementation of the multi-annual action ......june 2018 5. 6 7 annual report on...
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Annual Report onImplementation of theMulti-Annual Action Planfor a Regional Economic Areain Western Balkan Six
Co-funded by the European Union
Good.Better.Regional.
Title: Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area
in Western Balkan Six
Publisher: Regional Cooperation Council
Trg Bosne i Hercegovine 1/V, 71000 Sarajevo
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tel. +387 33 561 700, Fax. +387 33 561 701
E-mail: [email protected]
website: www.rcc.int
Authors: Regional Cooperation Council, CEFTA
Editor: Pranvera Kastrati
Consulting editors: Gazmend Turdiu, Maja Handjiska Trendafilova, Emir Djikic
Design Sejla Dizdarevic
© RCC2018 All rights reserved.
Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-
Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in
Western Balkan Six
June 2018
5
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Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................................... 7
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 8
OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................11
1.1 INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE OF THE REPORT .............................................................11
1.2 COORDINATION, MONITORING AND REPORTING ..............................................................11
1.3 TRADE ................................................................................................................13
Overall state of play/progress ...............................................................................13
Policy 1.1. Facilitation of trade in goods ..................................................................14
Policy 1.2. Harmonisation of CEFTA Markets with the EU .............................................15
Policy 1.3. Creating NTMs and TDMfree Region .........................................................15
Policy 1.4 Facilitation of free trade in services .........................................................15
1.4 INVESTMENT ........................................................................................................16
Overall state of play/progress ...............................................................................16
State of implementation at objective level ..............................................................19
Obstacles and challenges .....................................................................................22
Recommendations and next steps ..........................................................................23
1.5 MOBILITY ............................................................................................................24
Overall state of play/progress ...............................................................................24
State of implementation at objective level ..............................................................26
Obstacles and challenges .....................................................................................33
Recommendations and next steps ..........................................................................33
1.6 DIGITAL INTEGRATION .............................................................................................34
Overall state of play/progress ...............................................................................34
State of implementation at objective level ..............................................................37
Obstacles and challenges .....................................................................................41
Recommendations and next steps ..........................................................................42
Conclusions and recommendations ........................................................................43
ANNEX .............................................................................................................................46
ANNEX 3 – REGIONAL REPORTING TABLE ...........................................................................46
BEREC Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications
CCP Component Contact Points
CEPT European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations
CSIRT Computer Security Incident Response Team
DSO Digital Switch Over
EA Economies Authorities
EC European Commission
ECO European Communications Office
ENISA European Union Agency for Network and Information Security
GÉANT pan-European data network for the research and education community
MAP REA Multi-annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area
MFN Most Favoured Nation
NC MAP Coordinator at economy level
RCC Regional Cooperation Council
REA Regional Economic Area
RLAH Roam Like at Home
RRA Regional Roaming Agreement
RSPG Radio Spectrum Policy Group
SEDDIF South European Digital Dividend Implementation Forum
SEED Systematic Electronic Exchange of Data
WB6 Western Balkans Six
WRC World Radio Conference
ABBREVIATIONS
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Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
The Multi-annual Action Plan (MAP) for a Regional Economic Area (REA) in the Western Balkans Six (WB6), endorsed at the Trieste Summit of 12 July 2017, puts forward a strategic joint agenda for the Western Balkan economies to further regional economic cooperation with a view to unleash the potentials for growth, create conditions for better, transparent and predictable investment climate and improve the overall economic competitiveness of the WB6 economies. The actions introduced in the MAP REA are expected to be implemented until 2020, with some extensions until 2023, focusing on four key components: Trade, Investment, Mobility and Digital Integration.
A credible enlargement perspective for and enhanced EU engagement with the Western Balkans, launched on 6 February 2018, demonstrates the embedding of MAP REA within the core EU accession process. The strategy and its flagships on socio-economic development and digital agenda are directly related to MAP REA. Moreover, actions put forward in the Action Plan under “Supporting socio-economic development” and “A Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans” define clear actions to be implemented by 2019 - with some by 2020 – which are fully aligned with the MAP REA objective and actions.
The Declaration made at the Western Balkans Summit in Sofia on 17 May 2018 calls for urgent action to implement the Multi-annual Action Plan for the Development of a Regional Economic Area and announces the continued EU support in the efforts invested by Western Balkans. Moreover, the Statement of support for the digital agenda for the Western Balkans endorsed at the occasion of the EU-WB6 Summit highlights the importance of a market- and investment-friendly environment in the Western Balkans to move faster towards a digital economy, and as part of Sofia Priority Agenda announces the launch of a Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans, including a roadmap to facilitate lowering the cost of roaming; and to launch a substantial technical assistance package for the identification of potential digital investments (including broadband) through Western Balkans Investment Framework/Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance.
The MAP REA actions are aligned with strategic documents in particular with the Economic Reform
Programmes, as the key mid-term economic policy coordination documents. The cross-reference analysis between MAP REA and the ERPs 2018-2020 reveals a good fit between the two strategic frameworks and high prioritisation of MAP REA measures within the ERPs.
The overall coordination for the MAP REA implementation in each WB6 economy is the responsibility of the MAP Coordinator (MAP NC). Moreover, each economy has designated the MAP Component Contact Points (CCPs) for each of the four MAP REA components to steer the work of various working mechanisms within Trade, Investment, Mobility and Digital Integration components of the MAP REA. Coordination, reporting and monitoring in each participating economy is ensured through the MAP NCs while at regional level the coordination role for the Trade component is performed by CEFTA Secretariat and for the Investment, Mobility and Digital Integration components coordination is performed by the RCC Secretariat. Regular reporting to the MAP NCs meeting and PM Sherpas’ meeting, European Commission and other international organisations is in place. In addition, business-to-government (B2G) discussions were held back-to-back with the MAP NCs meetings, organised in cooperation with WB CIF, to ensure greater synergies amongst different actors.
The MAP REA Stock Taking and Needs Assessment report has been finalised. The process of needs assessment was carried out through self-identification of needs, complemented further by desk research and validated through the consultations held in all WB6 capitals. The gaps identified through the process are translated into practical lists of needs across the four areas, categorised as technical assistance/capacity building, analytical support, prospective multi-annual regional project interventions and capital investment support. RCC has supported the regional donor coordination in areas of relevance for MAP REA -the Fourth Meeting on Donor Coordination was held in Brussels on 13 March 2018, having great focus on MAP REA implementation and regional MAP REA-related needs.
The Guidelines on Governance, Coordination and Reporting for the MAP REA and the methodology on MAP REA monitoring and reporting have been
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY endorsed by the MAP NCs. This report is prepared in compliance with the methodology on MAP REA monitoring and reporting, offering a snapshot of MAP REA implementation. Other horizontal activities to increase visibility and information sharing on MAP REA have been also undertaken.
In the investment policy area, progress is recorded in particular in establishing a harmonised level playing field for investment. The MAP REA measures are focused on the removal of barriers to investments, in the areas of investment entry and establishment, investment protection and retention, and investment attraction and promotion, which will enable the WB6 economies to reap the benefits of economies of scale, and enable geographically diversified businesses, more efficient allocation of resources within a regional market, ultimately providing significant new opportunities for the private sector. To this end, the Regional Investment Reform Agenda (RIRA) has been adopted and the next step ahead will be to translate it into national action plans. The South East Europe Investment Committee (SEEIC) will continue to be the main platform for supporting RIRA, although economies still need to establish focus groups at the level of individual economies to discuss and steer proposed policy reforms.
Furthermore, Western Balkan economies will work on the joint promotion of the region as a unique investment destination. In this endeavour, the region will identify the sectors of economy with common grounds for joint promotion, namely the sectors where the participating economies will identify added value opportunities for development of regional value chains. Identification of priority sectors for investment promotion will be aligned with the MAP REA pillar on smart specialisation.
Lastly, there is a strong need for closer coordination at domestic level amongst relevant stakeholders for successful implementation of MAP REA, namely amongst the MAP National Coordinators, MAP Component Contact Points and line ministries and relevant institutions. To secure quality and sustainability of the regional dialogue, regional platforms for implementation of MAP REA must include adequate representation with pertinent decision-making mandate from the relevant institutions.
In an increasingly global economy, the extent to which international high-skilled mobility channels are formed within the region and between the region and the EU is a question of great importance. Better integration of high-skilled
professionals and academics into professional and research networks, the European Research Area and the European Higher Education Area will yield significant benefits for the migratory region of Western Balkans.
All of the WB6 economies have stepped up efforts and demonstrated good progress in removing obstacles to mobility of researchers. All WB6 economies have prioritised mobility of researchers in their respective strategic frameworks. In response to the identified obstacles to mobility of researchers, which include financial barriers, majority of the economies have created grant schemes to support mobility of researchers at the level of individual economies. All WB6 participate in Horizon2020 with varied success rates, as well as the Marie Curie Sklodowska Actions where success rates of the WB6 researchers are particularly low. With regards to actions aimed at supporting research infrastructure and the development of centres of excellence in the region progress has been slower and variation between economies more prominent.
Despite initial delays, technical preparations for opening of the negotiations on the Mutual Recognition Agreement of Professional Qualifications for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists and Architects have been completed and the joint Working Group on Recognition of Professional Qualifications has agreed at its meeting on 7th of May 2018 to recommend the opening of the negotiations. Provided that all governments finalise their internal procedures and inform the RCC Secretary General thereof, the first meeting of the negotiating teams could take place during July 2018.
The planned actions on removing obstacles to recognition of academic qualifications are ahead of scheduled timeline; therefore, advanced progress in the region can be noted. During December 2017, the participants agreed to launch a joint exercise on recognition of academic qualifications to identify and analyse similarities/differences in recognition of foreign degrees and to suggest further joint action to reduce the differences based on which Joint Guides on Recognition of Academic Qualifications will be prepared. The deepened regional cooperation on recognition of academic qualifications was reinforced by additional domestic efforts to shorten, simplify and create “student-friendly” procedures for recognition of academic qualifications. The new legislative frameworks adopted across WB6 in the last year
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Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
open multiple opportunities for MAP measures to contribute significantly to the modernisation of the higher education systems in the region.
Digital integration is characterised by a mixed level of preparedness amongst WB6 with Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia being at moderate level of preparedness regarding chapter 10 of the EU acquis, and Kosovo*1 and Bosnia and Herzegovina following behind. Digital transformation of WB6 holds great potential for enhancing growth in the region. The results of a regional analysis on the impact of digital transformation in WB6 shows that 10% increase in the digitisation index is associated with 0.63% GDP growth.
The WB6 are progressing in the transposition of the EU acquis in the area of electronic communications and information society although progress again varies amongst WB6 economies. Broadband mapping has well advanced during 2018, even though the measure is planned to be finalised in 2020. In spectrum policy harmonisation, WB6 economies are at an uneven level of preparation, with regulatory and institutional frameworks that provide for efficient overall spectrum management in place and uneven development in freeing up frequencies. Good progress is being made in harmonising regional roaming policies. Moreover, WB6 have committed to support and facilitate the processes of lowering the roaming costs for the full coverage of consumers in the Western Balkans region. The Western Balkan Digital agenda launched during the Digital Assembly on 25 June 2016 will support the digital transformation of the WB6 and prepare the region to integrate better into the EU Digital Market. Moreover, the Declaration of the Sofia Summit, of 17 May 2018, announced €30 million in technical assistance for digital projects, including broadband, within WBIF. A joint ICT Regulatory Dialogue between WB6 with the European Commission was launched in June 2018 and is foreseen to take place annually.
WB6 are undertaking efforts to improve cybersecurity - in general, they have adopted relevant policies and legislation for privacy, data protection and digital security and prepared some strategies in the area of cybersecurity. They are at an initial stage of alignment with Network and Information Security (NIS) Directive and further efforts to participate in ENISA work and activity is needed. On this note, RCC has recently initiated communication with ENISA
1 * This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence
to explore the prospects of participation of WB economies in the work and activities of the agency. All WB6 economies have established CSIRTs but they are underdeveloped and need longer-term capacity building programmes. RCC networked the CSIRTs from the WB6 and provided initial capacity building to their representatives. A regional Conference of CSIRTs is planned to be held in October 2018.
The WB6 Digital Summit organised on 18-19 April 2018, in Skopje - the first ever in this format – reconfirmed the commitment of WB6 to work on a regional digital agenda for the benefit of its citizens and the region as a whole. The conclusions of the Digital Summit reaffirmed the commitment of WB6 to work on: digital skills, trust and security, digital connectivity and digital economy and society. All WB6 economies have established forms of central portals for open data and regular updates of data are carried out. However, no regional dialogue exists as of yet on regional exchange of data. In addition, WB6 economies have adopted e-authentication frameworks and made progress in improving their e-authentication schemes. E-signature legislation is adopted and e-government services are gradually being aligned with the National Interoperability Frameworks. Moreover, there is a commitment to establish a regional framework for recognition of certificates of electronic signature and facilitation of cross-border trusted services. There are several digital hubs and innovation parks across the WB6. Most have been developed with donor funding (including EU, the World Bank, GIZ, USAID and other bilateral donors), private sector funding, or both.
OVERVIEW1.1 INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE OF THE REPORTMAP REA aims to promote further trade integration, introduce a dynamic regional investment space, facilitate regional mobility and create a digital integration agenda for WB6 economies. Actions introduced in MAP REA offer synergies with the reform agendas currently undertaken in all WB6 driven by the EU integration process, based on EU rules and principles and following the commitments deriving from the SEE 2020, CEFTA and Stabilisation and Association Agreements. Most of the actions are expected to be implemented until 2020, with some extending into 2023.
The Enlargement Strategy embeds MAP REA within the core EU accession process, having some of its flagships directly related to MAP REA. Moreover, during the Sofia Summit, the EU launched Sofia Priority Agenda for the EU and the Western Balkans, annexed to the Declaration, which emphasises actions in socio-economic development, business environment and digital agenda – most of which are already embarked on as part of MAP REA-related reform processes.
This report is organised in two parts. First part provides an overview of horizontal aspects related to the MAP coordination, monitoring and reporting and the second offers a detailed presentation of the implementation of MAP REA across the four components, both at objective and regional level, as well as conclusions and recommendations on key next steps. It aims to take stock of the developments within the four components of MAP REA, describe the state of play and capture the progress made in WB6 as a region. The report is prepared by RCC in cooperation with CEFTA Secretariat in accordance with the endorsed Methodology on MAP REA monitoring and reporting.
The reporting is based on the inputs and contributions provided by the WB6 following predefined reporting templates put forward within the Methodology. The report on MAP REA implementation will enable the WB6 leaders to review the progress, or the lack thereof, in each component. The insights from the monitoring will also help inform further formulation and fine-tuning of the actions, including possible
adjustments to the timelines, making them more realistic and achievable. This report is largely based on qualitative inputs received from the economies. The report also uses data from Balkan Barometer - a survey of public and business perceptions - where appropriate and of added value. The focus of next reports will be to improve user-friendliness, visualisation of progress and impact based on key output indicators – to be defined in close cooperation and consultation with MAP structures.
1.2 COORDINATION, MONITORING AND REPORTINGThe overall coordination for the MAP REA imple-mentation in each WB6 economy is the responsibil-ity of the MAP Coordinator (MAP NC). In addition, each economy has designated the MAP Component Contact Points (CCPs) for each of the four MAP REA components to steer the work of various working mechanisms within Trade, Investment, Mobility and Digital Integration components of the MAP REA. Coordination, reporting and monitoring in each participating economy is ensured at two principal levels - the first between the representatives in the regional mechanisms and the MAP CCPs, and the second amongst the Component Contact Points and the MAP Coordinator. At the regional level, the coordination role for the Trade component is performed by CEFTA Secretariat, while the Invest-ment, Mobility and Digital Integration components are coordinated by the RCC Secretariat.
Beyond the coordination role, the RCC and CEFTA Secretariats also provide assistance in policy for-mulation, support to internal coordination process-es and cross-sectoral consultations, and support in implementation of actions resulting in regional deliverables.
The coordination mechanisms for MAP REA are es-tablished in each WB6 economy, with the appoint-ments of National Coordinators and Component Contact Points finalised. In addition to the internal mechanism, designated persons for each compo-nent from CEFTA and RCC Secretariats and DG NEAR of the European Commission are appointed to facil-
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Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
itate the coordination of work. Regular meetings of the MAP NCs (i.e. Brussels, on 31 October 2017 and 30 January 2018 in Trieste) and MAP CCPs (Brussels, 12 March 2018 and Tirana, 15 May 2018) are held to review the progress on the MAP REA measures and discuss future activities and deliverables. In addition, business-to-government (B2G) discussions were held back-to-back with the MAP NCs meet-ings, organised in cooperation with WB CIF, to en-sure greater synergies amongst different actors.
RCC has finalised the Stock Taking and Needs As-sessment report, in cooperation with the CEFTA Secretariat, undertaking a considerable coordina-tion effort, both at national and regional level, to complete the needs assessment process, mainly through self-identification of needs. The report identifies the major policy gaps and needs, includ-ing assistance through bilateral or regional pro-jects, and proposes a set of measures needed to overcome them with a view of effective and timely implementation of the MAP REA as a whole. The findings of the report have been validated through the consultations - meetings held in all WB6 capi-tals during November 2017 and January 2018 – and presented during the second meeting of MAP NCs. Moreover, the report was shared with all coordi-nation mechanisms across WB6 for comments and suggestions which were duly reflected in the final version. The gaps identified through the process are translated into practical lists of needs across the four areas, categorised as technical assistance/capacity building, analytical support, prospective multi-annual regional project interventions and capital investment support.
The Guidelines on Governance, Coordination and Reporting for the MAP REA and the methodology on MAP REA monitoring and reporting have been endorsed by the MAP NCs. In accordance with the methodology on MAP REA monitoring and reporting, reports on implementation will be prepared twice a year: Annual Report - prepared mid-year to inform the WB6 Prime Ministers Summit; and Abridged Re-port - prepared at the end of each calendar year. Regular reports to the MAP NCs, the PM Sherpas2, European Commission and other international or-ganisations are prepared within the monitoring context.
RCC has supported the regional donor coordina-tion in areas of relevance for MAP REA. The Fourth Meeting on Donor Coordination was held in Brus-sels on 13 March 2018 with particular focus on MAP
2 The last reporting for Sherpa was on 11 April 2018 and 20 June 2018.
REA implementation and regional MAP REA-related needs – the later systematised by RCC for the three components (i.e. Investment, Mobility and Digital Integration) and CEFTA Secretariat for Trade. Ad-ditionally, Economy Fishes with state of play and recommendations were compiled and shared with all the participants of the Fourth Meeting on Donor Coordination.
Other horizontal activities have been undertaken to increase visibility and information sharing on MAP REA. Namely, as part of the RCC Website – MAP REA sub-page3, an online calendar for MAP REA ac-tivities4 has been prepared to allow all actors and partners to get information on the events and ac-tivities. Leaflet and video to promote the MAP REA and share information with larger audience on the activities and results have also been prepared5.
3 http://www.rcc.int/priority_areas/39/map-rea4 http://www.rcc.int/events_calendar/635 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWBjcNJUWuw&feature=youtu.be
1.3 TRADE6 Overall state of play/progress The Sofia and London summits have put some of the priorities that had to be accomplished by the CEFTA Parties by July 2018. In this respect the majority of CEFTA Parties have ratified the Additional Protocol 5 that entered into force on the 18th of April 2018. The CEFTA Joint Committee acknowledged the importance of discussions amongst CEFTA Parties about the best possible instruments to strengthen the enforcement of CEFTA rules through more ef-fective dispute settlement mechanism. The CEFTA Parties agreed to launch negotiations on a trade dispute settlement mechanism, so far referred as the Additional Protocol on CEFTA Dispute Settle-ment7. The draft text has been prepared and is due to internal procedures for the appointments of the negotiating teams. The statistical Portal has been prepared and launched and Parties are populating the data on trade in goods, services, FATS and FDI. Besides the abovementioned achievements, the CEFTA Parties concluded the nego-tiations on the CEFTA Sec-retariat’s functions, budget and staffing8. This one is ex-pected to be enforced until the London Summit.
Besides the main outputs, several other activities have taken place in the context of the MAP, such as the desig-nation of the single date of entry into force of the CEFTA Decision on Duty Drawback (1st of July 2019), the monitoring actions for the smooth implementation of the Agreement like public procurement and com-petition assessment.
6 The input for the Trade Component of MAP is provided by the CEFTA Secretariat and is introduced in its integral form, including on referencing the region’s economies7 In different frameworks such as CEFTA Agreement and the REA Multi-annual Action Plan8 Pending completion of the internal procedure by Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Parties, on the economy level, have started some of the reforms that would lead to the imple-mentation of the MAP priorities such as the estab-lishment of the National Trade Facilitation Commit-tees which were established in all of the Parties with the objective to enhance the public-private dialog.
The implementation of activities detailed in the MAP is within the realm of responsibility of the CEFTA Parties Authorities, with the support of the regional and international organisations active in the specific policy areas. The Trade Component of the MAP is coordinated by the CEFTA Secretariat for the regional perspective and by the CEFTA Contact Points. CEFTA bodies are involved in the work of all other MAP Components.
Related to the Trade Component, the progress made in the implementation of the MAP was the following as of May 2018 (see Figure below):
Figure 1: Trade – State of Preparedness of MAP Im-plementation in WB6 at the Level of Objectives9
9 Scores at the level of objectives are simple averages of activity-level scores. Scoring is performed on a scale that assesses the stage of preparedness in MAP implementation, and includes the following scores: 1 – early stage (no actions taken), 2 – some level of preparation (preliminary steps undertaken), 3 - moderately prepared (implementation started, structures and mandates in place), 4 – good level of preparation (implementation advanced with preliminary results evidenced), and 5 – well advanced (measure fully implemented). Further information on scoring available in the Methodology on monitoring and reporting on the Multi-annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in the Western Balkans (MAP).
REVIEW OF IMPLEMENTATION PER COMPONENT
0
01
2
3
4
5
1.1. Facilitation of trade in goods
1.2. Harmonisation of CEFTA Markets
with the EU
1.3. Creating NTMs and
TDM-free Region
1.4. Facilitation of trade
in services
3.2
4.0
2.8
2.0
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Policy 1.1. Facilitation of trade in goodsObjective I.1.1. Strengthening the monitoring and enforcement capacity of CEFTADuring the reporting period the CEFTA Parties have discussed the 3 proposed options for the establish-ment of the Dispute Settlement mechanism. The progress was achieved in dismissing the option No 3 and at the moment the 2 remaining options are under consideration. The negotiations have been launched by the Special Joint Committee con-clusion adopted in Pristina on 27 April 2018 that states: “WE acknowledge the importance of discus-sions amongst CEFTA Parties about the best possi-ble instruments to strengthen the enforcement of CEFTA rules through more effective dispute set-tlement mechanism. The CEFTA Parties agree to launch negotiations on a trade dispute settlement mechanism, so far referred as the Additional Pro-tocol on CEFTA Dispute Settlement10. Negotiations will also take into account further legal analysis and opinions provided by the CEFTA Secretariat. The exploratory talks were held under the auspices of the CEFTA Committee of Contact Points by the Sofia Summit until the official negotiation teams shall be appointed”. As the activity is completed the score is 5.
Objective I.1.2. Adoption of Additional Protocol 5 and start of its implementation
a) Regarding the adoption of validation rules for mutual recognitions, the concept notes have already been prepared. It is expected that the first draft of Implementing Provision of Mutual Recognition of AEO will be submitted to the relevant CEFTA bodies in June 2018. For the mutual recognition of border documents, the draft decision is expected to be submitted in the 4th quarter of 2018. The score is 3, which is moderately prepared.
b) During the reporting period the Additional Protocol 5 on Trade Facilitation entered into force for Macedonia, Moldova and Montenegro. Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina have also ratified the Additional Protocol 5 during the reporting period. The rest of CEFTA Parties are expected to finalise all the required parliamentary ratification
10 In different frameworks such as CEFTA Agreement and the REA Multi-annual Action Plan
in the first half of 2018. The score is 5 as the AP 5 entered into force for the three CEFTA Parties on 18 April 2018 and is expected to enter into force for all CEFTA Parties by the end of 2018 as planned.
c) Regarding the start of Implementation of Mutual Recognition Programmes, there will be regional piloting project to test the mutual recognition of AEO programmes according to the AP 5. The score is 2, as the piloting project will provide necessary feedback for the timely start of mutual recognition of AEO.
Objective I.1.3. Concluding Party level IT interconnections for data exchange between Agencies at the national level
a) The levels of the investments were provided to the Parties at the Rome meeting of the SEED Steering Committee in June 2017. In the further discussions it is possible that some amounts would be reduced due to the usage of TRACES. The score is 5, as this activity is completed.
b) Each CEFTA Party needs to confirm the amount which has been allocated from either their l budget or through international assistance. The CEFTA Secretariat cannot report this activity. Based on the reports of the Parties the score is 3 as most of the Parties have secured some of the funding for the hardware.
Objective I.1.4. Initiating exploratory talks on joint risk management, border controls and one-stop shop border controls
a) Once the AP 5 enters into force for all CEFTA Parties, the relevant action will start. The CEFTA Secretariat will run a questionnaire to analyse the level of preparedness of SPS Authorities for risk management. The tender for the questionnaire is awarded and the company should start with the activities during the next period. The score is 2.
b) Once the AP 5 enters into force for all CEFTA Parties, the relevant action will start. There are relevant CEFTA Structures which have been created with an appropriate mandate, the score is 2.
Objective I.1.5. Initiating exploratory talks on mutual cooperation between market surveillance control authorities of CEFTA Parties
a) The CEFTA Secretariat is in the initial phases of the discussions related to the market surveillance authorities and is working closely with the Quality Infrastructure Project which includes Market Surveillance Authorities. The score is 2.
b) The CEFTA Parties have selected two sectors that will be assessed by GIZ. Depending on the results of the GIZ Project one sector will be selected by the CEFTA Parties. The score is 3.
c) Development of the timeframe to conclude MRA is relied on the results of actions under b). The Score is 1.
d) Assessing potential to extend MRA in other supply chains with regional interest will be dependent on the previous actions b) and c). The score is 1.
Policy 1.2. Harmonisation of CEFTA Markets with the EUObjective I.2.1. Initiating the application of SAP+ and Full Cumulation
a) The derogation of PEM Convention is obtained. There are still a number of CEFTA Parties to conclude the relevant FTAs with EFTA or Turkey in order to complete SAP + cumulation. The score is 4.
b) The CEFTA Joint Committee of April 2018 recommended the application of full cumulation to start on 1 July 2019. The score is 4.
Objective I.2.2. Potential approximation of CEFTA MFN to EU CETCEFTA and World Bank will prepare a study on impact assessment of the potential approximation of CEFTA MFN rates to EU CET. The results will be presented at the annual ministerial meeting scheduled for November 2018. The score is 4 and further actions will arise from the results of the Study.
Policy 1.3. Creating NTMs and TDM-free RegionObjective I.3.1. Administrative Cooperation between Competition and State Aid Monitoring Authorities
a) The CEFTA has enough legal grounds and a specific Ministerial Decision regulating state aid schemes reporting. There is no concrete progress in other actions. The score is 1.
b) The CEFTA has enough legal grounds and a specific Ministerial Decision regulating state aid schemes reporting. There is no concrete progress in other actions. The score is 1.
c) The EBRD commenced implementation of the regional project on competition. The competition day was organised in Belgrade in April. CEFTA will cooperate with the EBRD regarding establishment of the links between the Competition Authorities and regular cooperation to bring efficiency in the state aid reporting processes. The score is 2.
Objective I.3.2. Eliminating any remaining discriminatory practices in public procurement markets
a) The CEFTA Secretariat has outsourced a company that will provide the assessment. At the moment the Inception Report is upon revision by the Parties. The full report was delivered in April 2018. The results were provided to the Parties for consideration with a view to have the final report approved soon. The results will be presented to the Joint Committee during the next meeting of the JC. The score is 4.
Objective I.3.3. Systemic Monitoring of NTMs in trade in goods and servicesThe CEFTA Market Access Barriers Database (MABD) is up and running, and regularly updated. Modali-ties to improve the identification of NTBs at the local level are to be explored for further efficient inputs in the MABD. Furthermore, the CEFTA Parties have been systemically employing bilateral con-sultations to eliminate the NTBs amicably. Regard-ing the elimination of structural NTBs CEFTA needs well-functioning dispute settlement. The score is 3.
Policy 1.4 Facilitation of free trade in servicesObjective I.4.1. Implementation of CEFTA Additional Protocol 6 on Trade in Services
a) The Additional Protocol 6 is pending adoption by the CEFTA Joint Committee, as the issue of denomination of CEFTA Parties
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is still not resolved. The first steps towards securing the future AP6 implementation have been already taken by developing concepts of establishment of contact points for services to secure the fulfilment of the commitment stated in Article 9 para 3. The score is 1.
b) The constraints on the adoption of AP6 are not allowing this activity to start. The Score is 1.
c) The tenders have been prepared for this activity and companies selected. The start of the implementation is expected during the month of June 2018. The score is 2.
d) The activities under this action are planned with GIZ. The first workshop was held in March 2018 to assess the project proposal. The proposal was submitted by GIZ to the BMZ and the positive outcome is expected. The score is 2.
e) Not started yet
f) Not started yet
g) Not started yet
h) The CEFTA Secretariat has developed the Reporting System on Trade in Services, FATS and FDI Services and an adequate dissemination platform. The CEFTA Statistical Portal is set up and features widespread data covering all aspects of trade in services statistics, FATS and FDI statistics as well as indicators defined and approved by the Working Group on Trade in Statistics and Subcommittee on Trade in Services. The portal is accessible via CEFTA Secretariat website, and data can be read and downloaded in professional and user-friendly manner. The score is 4 due to the population of the data by the Parties.
Objective I.4.2. Conclusion of agreements on intra-regional regulatory cooperationIn its Ministerial Conclusions of 27 April 2018, the Parties have considered the importance of trade without regulatory barriers and took steps to-wards negotiating suitable forms of arrangements amongst regulators in charge of services. The sec-tors mutually selected by the CEFTA Parties where the potential conclusion of intra-regional coopera-tion amongst regulatory authorities can be reached included: communication, road transport, tourism and travel, construction and related engineering,
as well as computer related services sectors. The best practice instruments such as harmonisation, sector-specific legally binding agreement and Mu-tual Recognition Agreements proved to be most efficient in increasing efficiency of intraregional trade.
Objective I.4.3. Development of disciplines on domestic regulationThe importance of the domestic regulatory envi-ronment as a context for trade has been widely recognised in Article 10 of the Additional Protocol 6 and in the Ministerial Conclusions. The issues should be dealt within the Subcommittee on Trade in Services.
Objective I.4.4. Launching dialogue on regulatory issues in electronic commerceIn accordance with Article 28 of CEFTA and Article 18 of the Additional Protocol 6, regional dialogue on regulatory issues in e-commerce is set to be launched, coupled with the activities of the RCC under Digital Integration Agenda. First actions have been dedicated to the analysis of the existing legal framework, barriers in e-cross border trade as well as geo-blocking measures. CEFTA Subcommittee on Services will serve as an umbrella for the activities related to the Electronic Commerce with recom-mendations and next steps for the trade compo-nent.
1.4 INVESTMENTOverall state of play/progress The objective of the MAP REA investment agenda is to prioritise and implement reforms in investment-related policies in the WB6 to harmonise them with the EU standards and international best practices, and to promote the region as a sound investment destination to the global business community. This effort is complemented with initiatives to embed smart growth approaches into WB6 economic de-velopment strategies through introduction of smart specialisation. Finally, a more diversified private sector access to finance is also addressed through MAP REA with actions aimed at further regional capital markets development to increase business activity through financial intermediators other than banks.
The economies are at different stages of develop-ment on the three components of the investment agenda. These differences have been taken into ac-
count when preparing the regional deliverables for MAP REA.
Albania is in the final stages of enacting the Uni-fied Investment Law, to be followed by relevant bylaws (including the Investor Grievance Mecha-nism). Along with evolving the investment policy legal framework, there is also a strong need to strengthen the capacities of institutions in charge of implementing the investment agenda. Mixed progress is seen in smart growth with a need to fo-cus efforts on adoption of the Strategy on Research and Development, further strengthen the capacity of the National Agency for Science, and formalise the governance structure for the smart specialisa-tion strategy. Albania S3 team has identified rel-evant experts for data collection, and completed the first phase of the S3 roadmap, with planned support from JRC on the development of the smart specialisation strategy. Furthermore, the mapping of economic, innovative and scientific potential is anticipated to be completed by the end of the third semester of 2018. External expertise will be needed in the process and Albania is seeking fund-ing support from donors and JRC on this.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, investment policy and legal framework is in place, but in need of im-provement, with a particular focus on International Investment Agreements and Bilateral Investment Treaties Reforms, along with the need for capacity building in investment promotion. On other parts of the investment component, although the market authorities, regulators and operators are in place and functional on entity levels, Bosnia and Herze-govina would be well advised to further consolidate its financial market through closer coordination of stock exchanges, securities commissions and line ministries.
Kosovo’s* investment policy and legal framework, although largely in place, would benefit from fur-ther upgrading, with a particular focus on Inter-national Investment Agreements. In terms of the financial market development, the establishment of the stock exchange or other securities trading platform would help expand and diversify access to finance. Good progress is seen in smart growth, in particular with the set of initiatives on innovation policy which need to be fully implemented once adopted through a coordinated inter-ministerial approach. Support to raise awareness on smart spe-cialisation strategies would be important.
Montenegro’s investment framework is in place, but can be subject to further improvements, par-
ticularly on aspects related to modernising the net-work of bilateral investment treaties and updating their investor-state dispute settlement provisions. Given that Montenegro does not have the invest-ment promotion strategy, developing strategic plans for investments would be needed. Investment promotion in Montenegro needs further support by strengthening the currently understaffed invest-ment promotion agency.
UNCTAD has launched the e-procedures portal in Montenegro to map out all administrative proce-dures from business establishment to registering an employee, getting an electricity connection, etc. As for the financial markets, Montenegro has adopt-ed the new Law on Capital Markets introducing fur-ther compliance with EU acquis in this area and setting the basis for further alignment with imple-menting directives and regulatory technical stand-ards. Good progress is noted in smart growth, with a set of initiatives on innovation policy that are to be adopted in a coordinated inter-ministerial ap-proach. The new Strategy of Scientific Research Ac-tivity (2017–2021) with the Action Plan was adopted by the Montenegrin Government in December 2017 and the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) is under preparation. Within the S3 development, Monte-negro started with the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) in May 2018 and is currently carrying out a second round of consultations with private, public, academic and civil sectors regarding S3 pri-ority sectors. The Ministry of Science implemented the Pilot Call for Innovative Projects in November 2017 and plans to publish the call for larger innova-tive grants 2018-2020 by the end of June 2018. Fur-thermore, Montenegro co-signed, along with other (wider SEE) economies a Declaration of Intent for Establishment of the Scientific Institute in South East Europe, which is anticipated to stimulate the education of young scientists and engineers based on knowledge and technology transfer from Euro-pean laboratories like CERN and others, and would enable international competitive research in South East Europe.
In case of Serbia, although no input has been re-ceived as of yet, it can be noted that the legis-lation pertinent to investments is in place, along with the new Investment Promotion Strategy, with further reform to be undertaken within the RIRA context. Serbia has made considerable progress in capital markets development by having in place an advanced trading platform/stock exchange as well as functional and effective regulators, with some additional needs for policy and technical level im-provements. In case of smart specialisation, Serbia
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is placed amongst the advanced economies in the region, having S3 platform in place.
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has adopted the new programme for investment sup-port as well as the new Law for Financial Support to Investments (Law on Investments) accompanied with the respective by-laws for its implementation. In the financial markets area, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has the institutions (regula-tors and operators) in place, with planned upgrades through policy interventions and technical support underpinned by regional-level dialogue.
Across the region, a strong need is evident for bet-ter coordination at the level of individual econo-mies – namely amongst the MAP REA National Co-
ordinators, Component Contact Points and line ministries and relevant institutions. To ensure quality of deliberations and sustainability of the regional dialogue, regional platforms for MAP REA implementation must include adequate represen-tation with clear decision-making mandates from the relevant institutions. In addition to the regional level (via RCC-supported platforms and communi-cations channels), the work of the regional plat-forms (i.e. working groups on investments, capital markets, and others) must be channelled back into the domestic context and coordinated amongst representatives in the regional platforms with MAP REA National Coordinators. This is necessary so as to align the vertical and horizontal coordination processes of MAP REA implementation.
Figure 2: Investment - State of Preparedness of MAP REA Implementation in WB6 at the Level of Objectives
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II.1.3. Implement
and monitor investment
reforms in WB6
II.1.2. Formalize
the regional investment
reform agenda through
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II.1.5. Diversification
of financial systems to
boost investment
II.1.6. Smart
Growth
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II.1.1. Develop and
establish a regional investment
reform agenda
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On the overall state of play, the region stands on a moderate level of preparation in the investment component of the MAP REA. WB6 has advanced in preparing the regional investment reform agenda, building/upgrading the smart specialisation plat-form, as well as establishing the regional platform
on capital markets and agreeing on the need for a regional strategic approach to this part of the agenda (see Figure 2). The regional deliverables have been agreed upon at the existing/newly es-tablished platforms as follows:
Table 2: State of play of the RCC facilitated regional deliverables
Deliverables Output indicatorConsensus on regional investment reform agenda (RIRA) with pertinent set of policies
RIRA endorsed through consultations at individual economy level, and structural regional dialogue through SEEIC-CEFTA Joint Working Group on Investments, SEEIC plenary and ultimately SEEIC ministerial meeting
Deliverables Output indicatorReaffirmed mandate of SEEIC-CEFTA Joint Working Group on Investments
Terms of Reference of SEEIC-CEFTA Joint Working Group on Investments amended with a focus on MAP REA and adopted, with mandated participants in charge of investment policy, investment promotion, investment agreements and CEFTA contact points
Established regional capital markets platform Working Group on Capital Markets established and official, comprised of representatives from Ministries of Finance, Central Banks, Securities Commissions and Stock Exchanges, with adopted Terms of Reference with a focus on MAP REA
Regional project initiative for financial markets coordination and diversification of access to finance through capital markets
Multi-annual regional programme proposal for capital markets developed under the guidance of the Working Group on Capital Markets
Initiation of introduction of Smart Specialisation to strategic industrial development documents
S3 teams established and S3 roadmaps drafted in 5 economies
State of implementation at objective levelII.1. Investment policyThe WB6 as a region is on a good track in imple-mentation of the investment component of the MAP REA. During the reporting period, all economies delivered necessary inputs and took part in prep-aration of RIRA, both through individual economy consultations and the regional dialogue (through sessions of SEEIC-CEFTA Working Group on Invest-ments and SEEIC plenary and ministerial fora). Fur-thermore, the region has focused on the agenda for the diversification of finance through the capital markets, by establishing a new regional platform – Working Group on Capital Markets – and develop-ing a multi-annual regional programme proposal for capital markets development.
RIRA has been developed under the guidance of the SEEIC-CEFTA Joint Working Group on Invest-ments and technical support of the World Bank Group through an EU-funded regional programme on investment policy and promotion. It sets out the pathway for creating a dynamic investment space in the WB6, according to the MAP REA, within the context of the SEE 2020 Strategy and CEFTA legal framework, and pursuant to the individual econo-my SAAs. It puts the priorities of the private sector at the centre stage while recognising the individual development priorities of the WB6 economies.
In line with these twin objectives, the agenda fo-cuses on core areas of investment policy as well as related policies that matter most to the private sector and the governments of the region. RIRA is
intended to contribute and add value to individual investment reform efforts undertaken by the econ-omies of the region. The agenda acknowledges the differing reform baselines as well as implementa-tion capacities across the economies of the region, as well as the different stages of EU integration process. RIRA ensures transparent and fair compe-tition amongst the economies by mitigating a “race to the bottom” whilst not hindering the interests of the WB6 economies. The ultimate goal of the agen-da is to improve the attractiveness of the region as a whole for foreign and intra-regional business, and hence facilitate higher inflow of investments and generate higher entrepreneurial activity, trade, and ultimately jobs. Hence, the WB6 are commit-ted to design and implement a regional investment reform agenda which will lead to greater harmoni-sation of regional investment policies aligned with EU and international standards and best practices, and will provide significant new opportunities for the private sector.
The WB6 succeeded to implement the MAP REA measures prescribed for the 1st half of 2018 under the investment component, as follows11:
Objective II.1.1. Develop and establish a regional investment reform agendaThe region has implemented the MAP REA measures for this specific dimension within the timeframe for the first half of 2018. Detailed mapping of foreign
11 MAP REA Investment component measures not mentioned under this heading are intended for the later stage, after the WB6 Summit in London and are taken into consideration under the Next Steps heading
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investments in the WB6 region has been performed, with the input and access to FDI-relevant data pro-vided by the WB6 economies. Based on this data, a comprehensive inventory/database of key invest-ment policy barriers and inhibitors has been iden-tified and compiled, and best practices outlined. This work has been performed through in-depth consultations with the private sector and review of existing analysis, with economies providing neces-sary data on existing policies, laws, and regulations pertaining to investment, relevant system of incen-tives as well as legal and other comprehensive pro-tection of the acquired rights of investors12. With this, and other data taken into account, a regional investment reform agenda proposal has been for-mulated and this agenda has been consulted with the participating WB6 economies on the individual economy level.
Given that the RIRA is comprised of heterogeneous mix of policies pertinent to investments, different institutions in charge of those policy areas took part in the consultations and provided their inputs, under the coordination of the MAP REA Investment Contact Points. Individual-economy consultations were used to help align the proposed measures with different investment context in each of the WB6 economies, as well with the diverse priorities contained in individual economy strategic objec-tives and reform efforts (i.e. Economic Reform Pro-grammes). Following the consultations, RIRA was further discussed through the SEEIC-CEFTA Joint Working Group on Investments, both in direct work-ing group sessions as well as continuous online con-sultations throughout the reporting period. As the Working Group on Investment operates under the auspices of the SEE Investment Committee (SEE-IC), the final proposal of the RIRA was authorised at the SEEIC Plenary meeting on 27 April 2018 and ultimately endorsed by the Ministers of Economies at the SEEIC Ministerial meeting on 11 May 2018. Based on the final ministerial decision, RIRA will be forwarded to the region’s Prime Ministers for adop-tion at the upcoming WB6 Summit.
RIRA entails measures on the following policy areas:
I. Investor Entry and Establishment
1. Enhancing entry and establishment opportunities for investors
2. Improving business establishment policies and procedures
12 More than 750 multinational corporations have been surveyed in order to find out what motivates investors’ decision-making, with access to new markets (including regional) or new customer being the top priority rather than just the domestic market of one host economy.
II. Investment Protection and Retention
3. Aligning the legal frameworks for investment, including IIAs, with in-ternational good practice and EU standards
4. Strengthening investment retention mechanisms in the region
III. Investment Attraction and Promotion
5. Developing a regional investment promotion initiative
6. Streamlining incentives, and im-proving their transparency and gov-ernance
Objective II.1.2. Formalise the regional investment reform agenda through appropriate instrumentsActions under this objective are planned for the second half of 2018 and no specific activities can be reported to date.
Objective II.1.3 Implement and monitor investment reforms in WB6 as per established regional investment reform agendaThe regional dialogue on RIRA has been strength-ened and guided under the existing RCC’s SEEIC-CEFTA Joint Working Group on Investments. The regional platform has developed and endorsed an updated Terms of Reference, with a specific focus given to the implementation of MAP REA Invest-ment component. The updated ToR requires con-tinuous participation in the Working Group by the economies’ representatives in charge of investment policy, investment promotion, investment agree-ments and CEFTA contact points. This work is sup-ported by the MAP REA Investment Contact Points, appointed by the MAP REA National Coordinators. So far, several economies have clearly defined and mandated representation of the relevant public in-stitutions with appropriate decision-making power in implementation of the agreed regional invest-ment reform agenda, while others are anticipated to do so in the upcoming period.
Objective II.1.4. Promote WB6 region as a unique investment destination RIRA also includes a joint investment promotion ini-tiative for WB6 in priority sectors. This initiative, also stipulated by the SEE 2020 Strategy, includes identifying and selecting additional priority sec-tors under the smart specialisation effort that will
have the priority focus in the investment promotion activities in the upcoming period. The operational platform for investment promotion already exists under the RCC’s SEEIC-CEFTA Joint Working Group on Investments and its participants mandated by the investment promotion authorities will take the lead in implementing this part of MAP REA. The work on the regional investment promotion takes into account the development of the online region-al platform for promotion of the WB6 undertaken by the Chamber Investment Forum – CIF.
Objective II.1.5. Diversification of financial systems to boost investment All measures planned to be implemented under this objective during the reporting period have been executed. The RCC supported establishment of a Working Group on Capital Market set up in Decem-ber 2017, comprising policymakers (Ministries of Finance and Central Banks), capital market regula-tors (Securities Commissions) and operators (Stock Exchanges) with the objective of spearheading cap-ital market development matters and enhancing co-ordination on regulatory and supervisory regimes in the region and beyond. Terms of Reference for the Working Group have been adopted, with a focus on implementation of capital markets measures under MAP REA, intended to expand and diversify access to finance beyond the banking sector and contrib-ute to the creation of a more dynamic investment space in the region. Capital markets development needs identified in the first MAP Stocktaking Report were also confirmed by the group, which also put forward other measures and activities, beyond the stipulations of MAP REA, including:
� Determining detailed gaps, barriers, and needs of development of capital markets, and articulating them into concrete reform proposals: regional strategy for development of capital market
� Addressing the barriers and challenges to capital market development through targeted policy interventions by integrating them into individual-economy strategic documents and implementing the proposed reforms on the individual-economy levels
� Establishing new platforms for access to finances (i.e. crowdfunding, venture capital, etc.)
� Increasing capacity of existing capital market structures and initiating establishment of capital market structures where non-existing
� Upgrading joint regional trading platforms
These proposals have been consolidated into a con-cept note for multi-annual regional programme for capital market development that is currently being proposed for consideration for financing and future implementation.
Objective II.1.6. Smart GrowthResearch and innovation policy frameworks and ini-tiatives have been very dynamic in all economies of the region over the past year. Majority of econo-mies have started to engage in developing policies, instruments and institutions to directly support in-novation in the private sector, enhance cooperation between the academia and industry, and promote technology transfer and commercialisation of re-search.
Development of smart specialisation strategies has been placed on the agenda as one of the priorities for 2018 by all economies. Montenegro and Serbia have progressed in the development of the smart specialisation strategies, while the other four economies have initiated the process of the devel-opment of smart specialisation strategies by ap-pointing the coordinating institution and the team to work on the preparation of the smart specialisa-tion in early 2018. RCC and the Directorate-General Joint Research Centre (DG JRC) of the European Commission co-organised a joint Workshop on the Governance of Smart Specialisation and Training on the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) in the Western Balkans, which was held at the Ljubljana Technology Park in April 2018.
During the course of the workshop, Albania, Bos-nia and Herzegovina, Kosovo* and The Former Yu-goslav Republic of Macedonia have completed the first drafts of the Roadmaps for the Development of the Smart Specialisation Strategies, while Montene-gro and Serbia have started to prepare operational plans for the implementation of the EDP process. Albania has finalised the first phase of the S3 road-map having obtained a letter of intention from the JRC regarding the collaboration on the develop-ment of smart specialisation strategy. Also, the in-stitutional capacity building phase of the roadmap was concluded, and the desk research of existing policies and strategies related to S3 has been final-ised. The decision to have a S3 - while also piloting the Region 2 - was taken in close collaboration and consultation with the RDA2. The Albanian S3 team is working closely with JRC following the steps foreseen in the jointly agreed roadmap. Montene-gro started with Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) in May 2018 and is now holding the second round of consultations with private, public, aca-
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demic and civil society sectors regarding S3 priority sectors.
The Western Balkan region has significantly im-proved innovation performance in the last ten years. However, in catching up with other European regions, the focus of innovation efforts should be enhanced. Although some Western Balkan econo-mies have seen increases in patent activity, patent intensity in the region is still low, while, on the oth-er hand, scientific publication production displays a stable growth trend. Exports are still far more focused on medium- and low-technology products. Innovative efforts mostly accommodate tradition-ally strong sectors, which do not necessarily reflect the ideal competitiveness paths for economies in the region13.
According to the 2018 Balkan Barometer Business Opinion Survey, almost every fourth company in SEE has reported introducing new products and/or services and every third company has improved production and/or service delivery process in the past three years. In terms of sectors, companies from educational-scientific sector tend to innovate more, while those in transport, trade and tour-ism seem to innovate the least of all compared to other sectors. Only 9% of the introduced innovation comes from cooperation with the universities in the region.
A multi-country IPA project aimed at supporting technology transfer and innovation in the Western Balkans – EU4Tech – managed by DG NEAR and DG Joint Researcher Centre was launched at the begin-ning of 2016. Fifteen organisations in the ecosys-tem for TT capacity building in the WB6 have been identified within the project and targeted capacity building and trainings are to commence in 2018.
Furthermore, the European Investment Bank (EIB) is conducting a feasibility study for a regional Centre of Excellence which should propose institution(s)/hub(s) with highest potential for Centre of Excel-lence based on research agenda, capacity to inte-grate related fields, enable industrial connectivity, and ensure visibility and sustainability. Due to de-lays, the study has not yet been made available, but it is expected to be published later in 2018.
Investments to support innovation, as well as com-mercialisation of public research are of crucial im-portance. Serbia has set up a functional innovation fund, as did The Former Yugoslav Republic of Mace-
13 Supporting Innovation Agenda for the Western Balkans: Tools and Methodologies, EU (2018). Available at http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC111430/2018-04-24_western-balkans-report_online.pdf
donia. Albania also offers public grants to SMEs that focus on innovation and technology by supporting audit of innovation and technology needs, partici-pation in innovation and technology national and international fairs, procurement of technology-intensive/innovative equipment/machinery, etc. Other economies have started introducing differ-ent innovation voucher schemes on a smaller scale. Under the Western Balkans Enterprise Development and Innovation Facility (WB EDIF), the World Bank is implementing technical assistance to support de-velopment of an enabling venture capital ecosys-tem and assist with investment readiness of SMEs. Investment readiness pilots are being implemented throughout the region.
The EU4Tech project, mentioned above, has re-viewed existing available TT financial instruments in region. Based on the identified gaps, JRC’s the-matic expertise and EIB’s financial know-how will be used in a synergetic way to launch a small-scale WB6 pilot initiative funded through the multi-coun-try IPA, which will represent the next, and first practical, stage in the efforts to cover the so called “valley of death” between research and industry.
Obstacles and challenges The implementation of the investment component of the MAP REA encounters some difficulties and risks that need to be addressed both at individual-economy and regional level. The main challenges relate to capacity of public administration to com-ply with this demanding agenda, as well as coor-dination amongst the relevant institutions at the level of each individual economy. Although some technical assistance to support implementation of one part of the measures put forward in MAP REA Investment component has been available, further assistance is needed, particularly on the legal side of RIRA, more comprehensive investment promo-tion, and implementation of the measures devel-oped under the capital markets segment.
The challenges in implementing investment compo-nent measures entail:
� The level of harmonisation of the domestic legislation with the respective EU acquis is uneven across WB6 as economies are at different stages of EU integration process with own plans for legislative harmonisation process. This may in certain areas collide with the need to have regional positions or deploying regional actions. Due consideration is to be given to this, along with the attention to the different levels
of development and reform priorities in each of the participating economies.
� Both the available expertise and human capacity is a challenge across the region. The administrations are usually understaffed (particularly investment promotion agencies, but situation is not much different in the ministries either) or lack technical and expert capacity and need support in designing and implementing the activities dedicated to regional cooperation, as this usually represents work on top and beyond the usual scope. Thus, technical assistance is needed at several levels to support the administrations in implementing MAP REA measures.
� Administrative and bureaucratic obstacles to the implementation of the measures may hinder the process of implementation of agreed MAP REA measures at individual economy levels and dilute the quality of reforms. The effective implementation of reforms will entail a complexed chain of decision-making at the individual economy levels. For this reason, dedicated and effective coordination and communication amongst the relevant stakeholders in each of the economies will be needed amongst to successfully implement the measures.
� There is a clear need to integrate WB6 closer into the EU programmes and initiatives, as there are several actions intended to facilitate the participation of WB6 in EU programmes, initiatives and institutions. This also requires a proactive and positive response by EU institutions and other potential partners involved, and a need for DG NEAR to coordinate this process.
Recommendations and next stepsThis section provides a blueprint for next steps to be undertaken in the coming period so as to reach the set objectives under the MAP REA Investment component. The recommendations represent a nat-ural sequence of implementation of the Investment component, taking into account that the measures foreseen for the reporting period have been ful-filled.
II.1.1. Develop and establish a regional investment reform agenda
� Formulate individual-economy action plans reflecting the regional investment reform agenda and streamlining the individual-economy reform efforts
� Adopt individual economy action plans, reflecting the regional investment reform agenda and streamlining the individual economy reform efforts
II.1.2. Formalise the regional investment reform agenda through appropriate instruments
� Conduct analysis and propose options for appropriate instrument(s) acceptable to WB6 economies based on the content of the agreed regional investment reform agenda
� Decide on the feasibility, format, and scope of appropriate instrument(s) for implementation of the regional investment reform agenda
� Initiate and conclude negotiations on regionally suitable instrument(s), depending on the decision reached.
II.1.3. Implement and monitor investment reforms in WB6 as per established regional investment reform agenda
� Establish individual-economy focus groups in charge of implementation of agreed investment reforms on individual economy level
� Review the progress of implementation of the regional investment reform agenda and conduct impact assessment through a regular regional dialogue under the RCC-CEFTA Joint Working Group on Investment Policy and Promotion meetings and reports
� Report on the implementation and impact of the regional investment reform agenda through the RCC-CEFTA Joint Working Group on Investment Policy and Promotion and SEE Investment Committee Ministerial Platform and the WB6 summit
II.1.4. Promote WB6 region as a unique investment destination
� Implement a small set of focused investment outreach activities in core sectors targeted by the SEE 2020 Strategy
� Dedicate part of the individual activities of investment promotion agencies to promoting the region as a sound investment destination
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1.5 MOBILITYOverall state of play/progressRetention and subsequent leveraging of human intellectual capital is of fundamental importance for developing knowledge-based economies in the Western Balkans. In an increasingly global econo-my, the extent to which international high-skilled mobility channels are formed within the region and between the region and the EU is a question of great importance. Better integration of high-skilled professionals and academics into professional and research networks, the European Research Area and the European Higher Education Area, will yield significant benefits for the migratory region of Western Balkans.
The Western Balkan Enlargement Strategy empha-sised the need to ensure full integration of the WB6 into the European Research Area and the European Higher Education Area to support integration of the students, researchers and academics into the ex-isting European networks. Furthermore, the Sofia Declaration of the EU – Western Balkans Summit calls for increased efforts on recognition of quali-fications.
All of the WB6 economies have stepped up efforts to prioritise and remove obstacles to mobility of researchers, resulting in overall good progress in this area. The WB6 have prioritised mobility of re-searchers in their respective strategic frameworks. In response to the identified obstacles to mobil-ity of researchers, which include financial barri-ers, majority of the economies have created grant schemes to support mobility of researchers at the level of individual economies. All of the WB6 par-ticipate in Horizon2020 with varied success rates, as well as the Marie Curie Sklodowska Actions where success rates of the WB6 researchers are low. For the first time some of the 2018 EU Progress Reports have flagged the participation rates of the WB6 in the MCSA. In the past year majority of WB6 have conducted specific capacity building measures to support active participation and increased success rates in available EU programmes. In the light of the preparations of the next generation of the EU programmes, in particular the FP9, the WB6 have an opportunity to formulate joint positions and propose concrete measures to tackle the challeng-es currently faced.
With regards to actions aimed at supporting re-search infrastructure and the development of cen-tres of excellence in the region, progress has been
slower and variation between economies more prominent. All the WB6 economies apart from Ko-sovo* have representatives in the European Strat-egy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI). Montenegro completed mapping of research infra-structure and finalised the Research Infrastructure Roadmap in line with ESFRI, while Serbia is in the final stage of completing the mapping exercise and the Research Infrastructure Roadmap. Additional resources and technical expertise is needed to sup-port the mapping of RI and the development of RI Roadmaps in other four economies.
Despite initial delays, technical preparations for opening of the negotiations on the Mutual Recog-nition Agreement of Professional Qualifications for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists, Architects and Civil Engineers have been completed marking good pro-gress on removing obstacles to recognition of pro-fessional qualifications. The joint Working Group on Recognition of Professional Qualifications has agreed on the 7th of May 2018 to recommend the opening of the negotiations on the Mutual Recog-nition Agreement of Professional Qualifications for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists, Architects and Civil Engineers in a multilateral framework. Based on the recommendation of the Joint Working Group on Recognition of Professional Qualifications the governments of the WB6 are expected to provide the mandates and to appoint the Lead Negotiator, Deputy Lead Negotiator and the negotiation teams. Provided that all governments complete their pro-cedures and inform the RCC Secretary General thereof, the first meeting of the negotiating teams could take place during July 2018. In addition, the Joint Working Group on Recognition of Professional Qualifications also agreed to recommend to the governments to appoint a coordinator for the Da-tabase on Professional Qualifications in WB6 with a mandate to coordinate the data collection and submit the data to the Database on Professional Qualifications by the 30th of June 2018.
One of the key conclusions of the JWG on MRPQ was to ensure the alignment of the recognition models proposed in the MRA to the EU recognition model as established in the Directive 2005/36/EC on Pro-fessional Qualifications. Therefore, the regional negotiations and efforts to transpose the Directive 2005/36/EC on Professional Qualifications are mu-tually reinforcing. Significant differences in pro-gress in the transposition of the Directive are no-ticeable amongst the WB6. To ensure this potential is fully captured, additional resources to support institutional capacity building and ensure expert support on the specificities of the Directive through
active support of the relevant line DGs (DG GROW) throughout the negotiations are indispensable.
The planned actions on removing obstacles to rec-ognition of academic qualifications are ahead of scheduled timeline; therefore, advanced progress in the region can be noted. The regional and do-mestic efforts to remove the obstacles to recog-nition of academic qualifications are particularly timely from an EU perspective as well. The Euro-pean Higher Education Area Ministerial Conference which took place in May 2018 has reinforced the importance of recognition of academic qualifica-tions. Furthermore, the EU is preparing a Commu-nication of Recognition of Academic Qualifications to be endorsed by the EU Council during the Aus-trian Presidency of the EU.
The Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualifications has agreed during December 2017 to launch a joint exercise to identify similarities/differences in recognition of foreign degrees and to suggest further joint action to decrease the dif-ferences based on which Joint Guides on Recogni-tion of Academic Qualifi-cations will be prepared. An initial set of principles for recognition of aca-demic qualifications has been discussed and is to be finalised at the next meeting of the Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualifications. In addition, to facilitate information exchange and increase transpar-ency and cooperation in recognition of academic qualifications, a regional dialogue and regular meetings of the ENIC/NARIC centres and the Qual-ity Assurance Agencies in the WB6 have been estab-
lished. Finally, the Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualifications has agreed on an initial concept of the joint online system to share infor-mation, including on higher education institutions, qualifications and decisions taken. This information would thus be available to all ENIC/NARIC centres and ministries responsible for higher education in the WB6 which puts the process significantly ahead of the proposed schedule.
The deepened regional cooperation on recognition of academic qualifications was reinforced by ad-ditional domestic efforts to shorten, simplify and create “student-friendly” procedures for recogni-tion of academic qualifications. The new legisla-tive frameworks adopted across WB6 in the last year open multiple opportunities for MAP actions to contribute significantly to the modernisation of the higher education systems in the region.
Figure 3: Mobility - State of Preparedness of MAP REA Implementation in WB6 at the Level of Objec-tives
The regional deliverables have been agreed upon at the existing/newly established platforms as fol-lows:
0
1
2
3
4
5
Objective: III.1.1.Removal of obstacles
tomobility of researchers
Objective: III.2.1.Removal of obstacles
to recognitionof professionalqualification
Objective: III.3.1.Removal of obstacles
to recognitionof academicqualification
3.0 3.0
4.0
Table 3: State of play of the RCC facilitated regional deliverables
Deliverables Output indicatorSupport integration of the WB6 into the EU initiatives on R&D and Open Science policies in the WB6
WB6 participated in the EU Member States Meeting of the National Contact Points for Open Science as observers
EU Report on Open Science will for the first time include a chapter on Western Balkans
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Deliverables Output indicatorCompleted technical preparations for the opening of the negotiations on the Mutual Recognition Agreement on Recognition of Professional Qualifications for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists, Architects and Civil Engineers
Recommendation on opening the negotiations on the Mutual Recognition Agreement on Recognition of Professional Qualifications for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists, Architects and Civil Engineers agreed by the Joint Working Group on Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications
Draft legal text of the Mutual Recognition Agreement on Recognition of Professional Qualifications for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists, Architects and Civil Engineers prepared
Structured approach on Recognition of Academic Qualifications in South East Europe was agreed and endorsed
Initiated work on technical preparation for a model of automatic recognition of academic qualifications in the WB6
Initiated work on the joint information system, i.e. regional on-line system to facilitate recognition of academic qualifications was prepared and discussed with the WG on RAQ
Kicked-off the network of ENIC/NARIC and QA agencies in the WB6
Formalised the Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualification which adopted Terms of Reference and Work Plan for 2018
Comparative study which included policy recommendations on removing obstacles to recognition of academic qualifications after a comprehensive consultation process was finalised
Principles of a model of recognition of academic qualifications presented and discussed
Joint Exercise on Recognition of Academic Qualifications outlining the objectives, methodology, results and next steps to facilitate recognition of academic qualifications was initiated
First concept of the joint information system, i.e. regional on-line system to facilitate recognition of academic qualifications was prepared and discussed with the WG on RAQ
Network of ENIC/NARIC and QA agencies met for the first time in March 2018
State of implementation at objective levelPolicy: III.1. Mobility of Researchers
Objective: III.1.1. Removal of obstacles to mobility of researchersAll of the WB6 economies have stepped up efforts marking overall good progress on removing obsta-cles to mobility of researchers. All WB6 have pri-oritised mobility of researchers in their respective strategic frameworks. Additional efforts were made by Albania where the National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation prepared a report for Min-istry of Education with the main findings on legal barriers to mobility of researchers, as well as on-line version of the Incoming Researchers Mobility
Guide. In Bosnia and Herzegovina establishment of the Registry of third-country nationals for the purposes of research, studies, training, volunteer service, schemes or educational projects was initi-ated; together with Ministry of Security and Service for Foreigners’ Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbia has identified legal barriers to mobility in the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Devel-opment of Serbia for the period from 2016 to 2020 - “Research for innovation” – and prepared an Action Plan be adopted in 2018. In response to the identi-fied obstacles to mobility of researchers, which in-clude financial barriers, majority of the economies have created grant schemes to support mobility of researchers. In Kosovo* the Ministry of Education and Science has allocated EUR 60,000.00 for mo-bility for 2018; in 2017, 84 researchers benefited
from this mobility fund. The 2018 Mobility Call has also been announced, and will remain open from February until October 2018 - 23 researchers have been supported during April-May.14 In The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia the Ministry of Edu-cation and Sciences provides financial support to young scientific - research staff with granting schol-arships for the academic year 2018/2019 for second and third cycle of studies at the top 10 ranked uni-versities in all scientific fields of study and at one of the first 100 ranked universities in the field of technical sciences according to the Academic Rank-ing of World Universities (ARWU).
All WB6 economies participate in Horizon2020 with varied success rates, as well as the Marie Curie Sk-lodowska Actions where success rates of the WB6 researchers seem to be low. According to EU’s Pro-gress Report in Albania the applicants to H2020 pro-gramme had increased to 249 from 146 in 2016, but the success rate remains comparatively low (7.9% compared to 14.7% overall for Horizon 2020). Fur-thermore, participation in Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions have been increasing steadily over the last years, counting a total of 21 funded talented re-searchers since 2014. Regarding the participation in H2020, Bosnia and Herzegovina has so far 29 suc-cessful projects with 45 participants from BiH, and has received EUR 4.1 mil, with success rate 14.4 versus 14.7 EU average. Bosnia and Herzegovina participates in all EU mobility schemes, particular-ly in MSC Actions. So far, BiH had 1 application in IF, 11 applications in ITN, 16 in RISE, and 2 researches involved in COFUND. Progress report for Kosovo* states that so far Kosovo* has participated 10 times in H2020 projects (2 new ones in 2016 and 1 new in 2017) and has had the first experienced researcher funded through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions last year.15 During 2018, Kosovo* approved a regula-tion for the definition and functionalisation of the NCP seeking to increase Horizon 2020 participation. Montenegro’s participation in the framework pro-gramme Horizon 2020 (H2020) is quoted in progress report to be 13 projects; however it is underscored that the success rates have improved and are close to the European average.16 According to EU’s pro-gress report Serbia continues to be active and suc-cessful in the EU research programme Horizon 2020 as well as in EUREKA, COST and the NATO Science
14 19 participating in the international conferences, and 4 others in scientific researchers.15 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/20180417-kosovo-report.pdf16 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/20180417-montenegro-report.pdf
and Peace for Security programmes. It also empha-sises that the number of early-stage or experienced researchers participating in Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions has increased steadily over the last years, counting a total of 126 funded talented researchers since 2014.17 The progress report for The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia cites that annual participation in the Horizon 2020 programme has doubled in 2016 and preliminary figures for 2017 show a continuation of this very positive trend. Overall, the Horizon 2020 success rate is low at 9.7%.18
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have been participating successfully in COST actions which support integration of researchers into Eu-ropean networks and raise their capacity. Albania has joined COST only this year (2018) while Ko-sovo* joined COST as a Near Neighbour Country. To support participation of WB6 (and others) in Horizon2020 the EU has opened special sub-pro-grammes - Widening measures, including Twinning, ERA Chairs and Widening Fellowships – in which the WB6 participate.
Matching efforts have been instigated by the WB6 economies which have in the past year conducted specific capacity building measures to support ac-tive participation and increased success rates in available EU programmes. In Albania the Ministry of Education and Science through the National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation has foreseen to train a group of 100 researchers on accessibil-ity and benefit opportunities from the Horizon 2020 programme. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Na-tional Contact Points for Horizon 2020 organised 20 info days, workshops and seminars in cooperation with universities, development agencies and cham-bers of commerce. Also, within the same structure, the Guideline for the Horizon 2020 programme was prepared and a grant scheme in the amount of BAM 444,000 was disbursed by the Ministry of Civil Af-fairs both in 2016 and 2017 as a support to research and academic institutions, SMEs and other R&D in-stitutions for preparing and submitting H2020, COST and EUREKA applications. In Montenegro training to improve the development of project proposals was provided while the H2020 National Office, national focal points, and the system of delegates to the H2020 Programme Committees were reorganised,
17 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/20180417-serbia-report.pdf18 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/20180417-the-former-yugoslav-republic-of-macedonia-report.pdf
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and awareness raising measures resumed accord-ing to this year’s progress report. In The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia an action plan for enhancing participation in Horizon 2020 and MSC actions respectively has been prepared foreseeing promotional activities and capacity building activi-ties.
In the light of preparations for the next generation of the programmes, the so-called FP9 programme, the experience of the WB6 should be taken into ac-count when designing particular instruments and measures of the programme, particularly as the WB6 experiences are not unique and are shared with many Central, Eastern and Mediterranean countries of the EU. Experiences of the FP7 where particular calls were directed at the WB research-ers and institutions were highlighted as particularly useful for the capacity building of the WB institu-tions and have had significant positive impact on the increased success rates of the WB institutions in competing with EU member states on a more equal footing. These actions should be considered for replication in FP9 and possibly the remaining calls under Horizon2020.
Western Balkan economies’ active participation in the Programme Committees of Horizon 2020 is im-portant, given the perspective of EU membership highlighted by the European Commission’s new en-largement strategy. As concluded at the last meet-ing of the Western Balkan Platform on Research and Development and Innovation19, the Western Balkan ministers might wish to consider addressing a joint letter to the European Commission proposing full voting rights in the Programme Committees to con-tribute to the discussions undertaken in the com-mittees.
Furthermore, each government has signed several bilateral agreements with economies of the region and outside the region to promote research coop-eration. However, the implementation of the bilat-eral agreements is stalled due to limited financial resources. Therefore, some of the MAP mobility contact points have initiated discussions on a po-tential multilateral agreement which may elevate some of the existing financial limitations.
With regards to actions aimed at supporting re-search infrastructure progress has been slower and variation between economies more prominent. All the WB6 economies apart from Kosovo* have representatives in the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI). Montenegro
19 See full conclusions here: https://wbc-rti.info/object/news/17083
completed mapping of research infrastructure and finalised the Research Infrastructure Roadmap in line with ESFRI, while Serbia is in the final stage of completing the mapping exercise and the Research Infrastructure Roadmap. Albania and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have announced preparation of the mapping of research infrastruc-ture in the upcoming period. Only Serbia has ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium) contact point and is one of the founding members of the Central European Research Infrastructure Consortium (CERIC-ERIC) and participates in Digi-tal Research Infrastructure for Arts and Humanities ERIC (DARIAH-ERIC20) and European Social Survey ERIC (ESS-ERIC21).
The Working Group on Open Science (WGOS) was formed under the auspices of the Regional Coop-eration Council (RCC) with the aim of accelerat-ing policy reforms in favour of Open Science in the Western Balkan economies and in particular to en-sure synergies between planned and new domes-tic e-infrastructures to support Open Access and Open Data policies in the region. Ensuring synergies amongst e-infrastructures at European and global level and designating a National Point of Reference for Open Access is essential for integration of the WB into the European Research Area. To support the process of Opening Science in the Western Balkans the DG R&D invited the WB6 to attend as observ-ers the regular meetings of the network of National Points of Reference on Scientific Information (NPR) of EU member states as well as included them into the upcoming cycle of regular EU reporting on Open Science.
The regional initiative, led by Montenegro, to es-tablish a South East European International Insti-tute for Sustainable Technologies (SEEIIST) aims
20 DARIAH is a European Research Infrastructure Consortium(ERIC), a pan-European infrastructure for arts and humanities scholars working with computational methods. It supports digital research as well as the teaching of digital research methods. Currently DARIAH has 17members: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, as well as cooperating Partners with eight non-member countries: Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. https://www.dariah.eu/21 The European Social Survey (ESS) is an academically driven cross-national survey that has been conducted across Europe since its establishment in 2001. Prior to the award of ERIC status, the ESS was funded on a round-by-round basis. The central coordination and design was funded through the European Commission’s Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Framework Programmes, the European Science Foundation (ESF) and national funding councils in the participating countries.
to build a regional centre of excellence centred around a research nucleus with the newest tech-nology which would offer a first-class research and have long-term effects on economic growth. The initiative has gained wide regional support whereby the Declaration of Intent to establish SEEIIST was signed on 25 October 2017 at CERN by Ministers of Science and other representatives of the respective economies. The first meeting of the SEEIIST Steer-ing Committee took place on 30 January 2018 in Sofia, during the Bulgarian Presidency of the Coun-cil of the EU.
All of the WB6 economies, with an exception of Ko-sovo*, have established the EURAXESS Service Cen-tres and associated EURAXESS Jobs Portals, yet lit-tle information on researcher job vacancies in the region is available through the EURAXESS portal. Majority of the economies are investing additional resources to raise capacities of their respective EU-RAXESS offices.
Policy: III.2. Mobility of Professionals
Objective: III.2.1. Removal of obstacles to recognition of professional qualificationsDespite initial delays, technical preparations for opening of the negotiations on the Mutual Recog-nition Agreement of Professional Qualifications for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists, Architects and Civil Engineers have been completed marking good pro-gress on removing obstacles to recognition of pro-fessional qualifications.
The Working Group on Recognition of Professional Qualifications has agreed on the 7th of May 2018 to recommend the opening of the negotiations on the Mutual Recognition Agreement of Professional Qualifications for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists, Ar-chitects and Civil Engineers in a multilateral frame-work. Based on the recommendation of the Joint Working Group on Recognition of Professional Qual-ifications the governments of the WB6 are expected to provide the mandates and to appoint the Lead Negotiator, Deputy Lead Negotiator and the nego-tiation teams8. To facilitate the internal govern-mental procedures the RCC has provided the draft legal text of the Mutual Recognition Agreement of Professional Qualifications for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists, Architects and Civil Engineers.
Once the governments have completed the inter-nal governmental procedures they are to inform the RCC Secretary General. Once all WB6 have completed the procedures and have informed the RCC Secretary General the first meeting of the ne-gotiating teams will be called by the RCC where
the Rules of Procedures for the negotiations will be discussed. If all the governments complete their procedures and inform the RCC Secretary General thereof by the 30th of June 2018 as agreed, the first meeting of the negotiating teams could take place in July 2018.
In addition, Working Group on Recognition of Pro-fessional Qualifications also agreed to recommend to the governments to appoint a coordinator for the Database on Professional Qualifications in WB6 with a mandate to coordinate the data collection and submit the data to the Database on Professional Qualifications. To facilitate the establishment of the Database on Professional Qualifications in WB6 the RCC has contracted a service provider to create the Database on Professional Qualifications. The initial data for the Health and Construction sectors has already been collected by the RCC. Therefore, once the governments have appointed the coordi-nators for the Database on Professional Qualifica-tions the verification of the data, upon which the launching of Database depends, will be possible.
One of the key conclusions of the JWG on MRPQ was to ensure the alignment of the recognition models proposed in the MRA to the EU recognition model as established in the Directive 2005/36/EC on Pro-fessional Qualifications. Therefore, the regional negotiations and individual economies ‘efforts to transpose the Directive 2005/36/EC on Professional Qualifications are mutually reinforcing and enable building technical capacities of the administrations to conduct the negotiations and transpose and prepare for the implementation of the Directive 2005/36/EC on Professional Qualifications at the same time. However, to ensure this potential is ful-ly captured additional resources to support institu-tional capacity building and ensure expert support on the specificities of the Directive 2005/36/EC on Professional Qualifications through active support of the relevant line DGs (DG GROW) throughout the negotiations are indispensable.
Albania aims to amend the Law No. 10171 (of 22.10.2009.) on Regulated Professions to approxi-mate it with the Directive 2005/36/EC on Profes-sional Qualifications. To this end, a working group was established by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth which will conduct a wide consulta-tions process and analyse the current procedures to identify possible issues to address by developing concrete mitigation measures.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has prepared a Roadmap for implementation of EU Directive on Regulated
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Professions 2005/36/EC adopted by the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Coordination institution and the contact point for the implemen-tation of the Directive on regulated professions at the level of BiH, as well as sub-coordination insti-tution and sub-contact points at entity, canton and Brcko District BiH were nominated in late last year in accordance with the Decision adopted by the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina22. Two meetings of the coordinator, contact point, sub-coordination institution and sub-contact points were held (December 2017 and March 2018). To support capacity building of all relevant BiH insti-tutions the Ministry of Civil Affairs applied for TAIEX project Capacity-building for relevant institutions in BiH for transposition of EU Directive on regulated professions in the area of architecture and medi-cine to be held by the end of the year pending the necessary approvals.
In Kosovo*, on 28 October 2016, the Parliament of Kosovo* has approved the Law on Professional Qualifications (no. 05 / L-066) which is aligned with the Directive 2005/36 / EC on professional quali-fications. The Law on Regulated Professions ap-proved in 2016 has created the legal bases to open the negotiations on mutual recognition agreements of professional qualifications between Kosovo* and the other WB economies for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists, Architects and Civil Engineers in a mul-tilateral framework. Even though the need for in-stitutional capacity building on the recognition of professional qualifications and the relevant EU Di-rectives has been recognised, no institutional ca-pacity building has been secured in the past year.
In Montenegro, the draft version of the Law har-monised with Directive 2005/36 and amended Di-rective 2013/55 has been completed. The Law is to be adopted by the Parliament of Montenegro in the second quarter of 2018. The Law will enter into force with the accession of Montenegro into the EU. In accordance with the draft version of the Law a single point of contact will be established by the state administration authority competent for the economic affairs. Creation of the list of regulated professions will be carried out by the Ministry of La-bour and Social Affairs, using exercise of transpar-ency forms, in close cooperation with all relevant ministries which are obliged to deliver suggestions regarding the list of their regulated professions.
Having in mind the importance of the regional co-operation and following up on the agreed conclu-
22 Only nomination of sub-contact point from the Ministry of Education and Culture of Republika Srpska is missing.
sions of the Joint Working Group on Mutual Rec-ognition of Professional Qualifications, Montenegro has already conducted initial consultations on the negotiation teams with the relevant ministries and professional chambers. For the time being the rec-ognition of all diplomas and qualifications, regu-lated or not, permanent stay or temporary stay, is carried out in accordance with the uniform Law on the Recognition of Foreign Educational Credentials and Qualifications Equivalence.
Serbia has prepared a Draft Law on Recognition of Professional Qualifications23. Serbia prepared a pre-liminary list of regulated professions and the data-base for mutual recognition of professional quali-fications has been developed, based on an open source solution that can be installed on any future platform. Furthermore, in order to ensure a system that shall provide minimum training conditions for occupations where an automatic system has been envisaged, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development has sent a factsheet to all relevant institutions so that they may harmonise their curricula with the prerequisites laid down in Directive 2005/36/EC. Analysis of this document is under way.
In The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia the Law on Recognition of Professional Qualification was adopted in 2010. A draft Law and draft by-laws on Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications aligned with the Directives 2005/36/EC, 2013/55/EU have been prepared, as well as recommenda-tions for harmonisation of the relevant legislation and alignment of the domestic educational pro-grammes with the minimum training requirements for the professions that are automatically recog-nised. The draft list of regulated professions has been completed. The database and software (web-site) for mutual recognition of professional quali-fications have been developed, based on an open source solution that can be installed on any future platform. The registry at this moment is incom-plete, but the input of the information into the database is planned to start after the transfer of the website into the Ministry’s data centre. Fur-thermore, the institutional capacities of the Inter-Ministerial Group and other relevant actors in the implementation process of the Law on Mutual Rec-ognition of Professional Qualifications have been strengthened through extensive awareness and training activities; including a production of video
23 The Working Group has 16 members (of which 12 are representatives of relevant ministries and 2 are representatives of the Bureau of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development).
recorded training materials for an online e-learning platform for future generations of newly recruited staff in institutions with an active role in the imple-mentation of the Law and bylaws on Recognition of Professional Qualifications.
With regards to the preparations for the opening of the negotiations on the MRA, the Ministry of Educa-tion and Science has continuous coordination with all relevant institutions and professional organisa-tions, especially with those professional organisa-tions responsible for the five regulated professions that are stipulated by the JWG MRPQ for the future Mutual Recognition Agreement.
Policy: III.3. Mobility of students and highly skilled
Objective: III.3.1. Removal of obstacles to recognition of academic qualifications The planned actions on removing obstacles to rec-ognition of academic qualifications are ahead of scheduled timeline. The deepened regional coop-eration on recognition of academic qualifications was reinforced by additional domestic efforts to shorten, simplify and create “student-friendly” procedures for recognition of academic qualifica-tions. Therefore, advanced progress in the region can be noted.
The regional and domestic efforts to remove the obstacles to recognition of academic qualifications are particularly timely as the European Higher Edu-cation Area Ministerial Conference that took place during May 2018 reinforced the importance of rec-ognition of academic qualifications24 and as the EU is preparing a Communication of Recognition of Academic Qualifications to be endorsed by the EU Council during the Austrian Presidency of the EU.
At the regional level, the Working Group on Recog-nition of Academic Qualifications has been formal-ised in December 2017. The Working Group on Rec-ognition of Academic Qualifications operationalised and set forward an ambitious timeline to achieve the objectives set out by the MAP REA ahead of the initial schedule.
Since December 2017, the Working Group on Rec-ognition of Academic Qualifications has agreed to launch the joint exercise on recognition of aca-demic qualifications with an objective to identify similarities/differences in recognition of foreign degrees; to analyse and discuss the differences and to suggest further joint action to decrease the dif-
24 http://www.ehea2018.paris/Data/ElFinder/s2/Communique/EHEAParis2018-Communique-final.pdf
ferences based on which Joint Guides on Recogni-tion of Academic Qualifications will be prepared. Different models for the recognition of academic qualifications have been discussed by the Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualifications. An initial set of principles for recognition of aca-demic qualifications has been discussed and is to be finalised at the next meeting of the Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualifications.
In addition, to facilitate information exchange and increase transparency and cooperation in recogni-tion of academic qualifications, a regional dialogue and regular meetings of the ENIC/NARIC centres and the Quality Assurance Agencies in the WB6 have been established.
Furthermore, the Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualifications has agreed on an initial concept of the joint online system to share infor-mation, including on higher education institutions, qualifications and decisions taken, available to ENIC/NARIC centres and Ministries responsible for higher education in the WB6 which puts the process significantly ahead of the proposed schedule.
At the domestic level, all of the legislation is aligned with the Lisbon Recognition Convention and all of the ENIC/NARIC centres are members of the European network of the ENIC/NARIC centres apart from Kosovo*. Majority of the economies have been investing additional efforts to further simplify and create “student-friendly” recognition procedures over the past year.
In Albania, the secondary legislation on diploma recognition issued by Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth was further improved in January 2018. The number of the required documents for the di-ploma recognition was reduced to just 4 (the same for the PhD) and the procedure of diploma recog-nition was further simplified by creating an online application procedure for applicants.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the BiH Centre for In-formation and Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education (CIP) conducted a comprehensive analysis of regulation on recognition of academic qualifications and found that the practice of nostri-fication continues to be implemented, contrary to the Lisbon Recognition Convention. Furthermore, the established legislative framework is incoher-ent, in key recognition issues, and still lacking in other important issues in the area of recognition (for example, joint degrees, regulated professions, non-formal education and informal learning, recog-nition of qualifications for refugees and displaced
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persons, etc.). CIP provided several recommen-dations to support the competent recognition au-thorities to mitigate some of the identified issues. Furthermore, through the EU funded STINT project a model for recognition of academic qualifications at public higher education institutions has been de-veloped and presented in all public higher educa-tion institutions together with training of staff on recognition of academic qualifications.
In Montenegro, initial discussions have taken place with regards to possible changes to create more ef-fective and simplified recognition procedures, es-pecially with regards to the issue of qualification equivalence. Furthermore, Montenegro is in the process of creation of a database of recognition decisions with a clear overview of all recognition applications classified per origin, type of HEI, study programme, type of qualification, etc. The on-line system will facilitate recognition procedures and will be very useful for the planned joint regional online system of cooperation. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has already established an automatic recognition procedure for some academ-ic qualifications in an effort to simplify the recog-nition processes. In this regard the recognition is automatic for qualifications awarded by the higher education institutions in top 500 on the Shanghai ranking list and the Times Higher Education rank-ing. Furthermore, to facilitate the recognition process in WB6 The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has signed Mutual Agreements for Rec-ognition of Qualifications with Serbia, entered in force on 22/09/2016, and with Albania, entered in force on 16/02/2002.
To support the procedures for recognition within the EHEA, several tools have been developed in the framework of the Bologna process. The National Qualifications Frameworks help to identify “the relation between the different levels of a national educational system and its main types of qualifi-cations and provide generic learning outcomes for all NQF levels.” (EAR HEI 2016: 102). In Kosovo*, Montenegro and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia the NQF has been established through relevant legislation and respective QFs have been referenced to the European Qualifications Frame-work (EQF) and self-certified against the qualifica-tions framework of the EHEA. In Albania the Law on the Albanian Qualifications Framework (AQF) was adopted in 2010 and is aligned with developments in the EU.25 However, the NQF has not yet been certified and self-referenced towards the EQF. In
25 https://www.ehea.info/pid34250-cid101090/albania.html
Serbia the Law on the NQF came into force only recently in April 2018.
In addition, the Diploma Supplement describes the qualification and the education system it belongs to, helping to further understand the qualifica-tion and thus facilitating its recognition (EAR HEI 2016: 96). With regard to the Diploma Supplement, it seems that majority of higher education institu-tions in the WB6 are issuing the Diploma Supple-ment, however it remains unclear to which extent are the HEIs issuing DS automatically, free of charge and in English language as agreed within the Bolo-gna framework.
It is important to note that within the Bologna framework an Advisory Group on the Revision of the Diploma Supplement (DS) has been established with a mandate to make recommendations to the Council of Europe, the European Commission and UNESCO in reviewing the Diploma Supplement, in cooperation with stakeholders. The Advisory Group prepared a comprehensive proposal for revision of the Diploma Supplement which aims to streamline the Diploma Supplement to include references to learning outcomes, as well as information on in-ternships and mobility experiences, references to extracurricular learning achievements and the recognition of prior learning, and recommended to the HEIs to embark on the digitalisation of DS and student data exchange, with a commitment to collect student data in a secure, machine-readable format, in line with data protection legislation. The recommendations of the Advisory Group have been endorsed by the European Higher Education Area Ministers in Paris on 25 May 2018. In the light of the European-level developments, the Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualifications has agreed to kick-off a joint exercise on Diploma Supplement implementation in the WB6 to facili-tate preparation for the implementation of the re-vised Diploma Supplement in the region following the Ministerial agreements made in Paris.
Quality assurance of HEIs and study programmes is the underlying foundation of the recognition pro-cess. All of the WB6 have established QA bodies, but currently only CAQA – Commission for Accredi-tation and Quality Assurance of Serbia is registered in European Quality Assurance Register. However, the domestic legislation for higher education has undergone significant changes in the past year in Montenegro, Serbia and The Former Yugoslav Re-public of Macedonia. In all three economies the new legislation envisages establishment of full-fledged Agencies for Quality Assurance in line with
the European Standards and Guidelines for Qual-ity Assurance. Kosovo* Accreditation Agency (KAA) functions as an independent agency since 2008, and uses Standards and Guidelines for Quality As-surance based on ESG 2015.
Obstacles and challenges The Mobility agenda has seen dynamic progress, in particular in reaching the key milestone in re-moving obstacles to recognition of professional and academic qualifications. Further implementation will require increased administrative capacities of the authorities involved in the two processes. To support the implementation, technical assistance to build further the domestic institutional capaci-ties will be needed. However, more importantly, the two processes open possibilities to support syn-ergies with the European processes, domestic ef-forts to transpose the relevant EU acquis and to integrate further into the existing European institu-tions. To enable the positive spill-overs and release the potential of the multiplying effects contained in these two agendas it is essential to ensure addi-tional financial resources and technical assistance to add on activities which would enable these ef-fects (for instance in supporting the development of the QA systems, their alignment with the ESG and registration of QA bodies from the WB in the EQAR). The recognition agenda benefited from the existing operationalised work plans, a similar joint work plan is missing in the agenda on the Mobility of Researchers. This is partly due to the nature of the actions, which are predominantly in domain of individual economies. However, benefits could be drawn from a joint work plan which would support further the efforts made at the level of individual economies. The main challenges to the implemen-tation of the actions outlined in the Mobility of Re-searchers of MAP relate to availability of technical assistance to implement some of the actions put forward in MAP, as specified below, and lack of cap-ital investment into research infrastructure.
The challenges in implementing mobility compo-nent measures entail:
� The research systems are specific and varied across the region. This poses challenges to creating a joint operational action plan to address the identified challenges as majority of the actions outlined in the Mobility of Researchers requires targeted domestic measures. However, the potential for joint actions where they can reinforce the measures undertaken at level of individual economies should not be missed.
� The level of harmonisation of the domestic legislation with the respective EU acquis on recognition of professional qualifications is uneven across WB6. This poses challenges to the dynamics of the planned negotiations in particular if the EU model of recognition is to be fully applied in the WB. On the other hand, it creates an uneven level playing filled with regards to technical preparation and capacity of the relevant institutions to conduct the negotiations.
� The pace of change of the European and domestic strategic and legislative frameworks across all three policy areas of the Mobility component of MAP is extremely high. This provides real opportunities for MAP actions to reinforce the individual efforts to modernise their research and education systems and contributes significantly to full integration of the WB6 into the EU and European frameworks. This also creates additional pressures to ensure that the MAP actions are always fully aligned and up to date with all the developments.
� WB6 need to increase their exposure to EU programmes and initiatives – there are actions intended to facilitate the participation of WB6 in several EU programmes, initiatives and institutions. In relation to the next generation of EU programmes, there are ample opportunities to formulate joint positions and the existing regional fora should be used by the governments. However, to ensure that the full potential of these opportunities is used, a proactive and positive response by EU institutions and other potential partners is essential.
Recommendations and next stepsThis section provides main recommendations and next steps for all objectives under the MAP REA Mobility component. The recommendations repre-sent the next steps needed to implement the Mo-bility component and are aligned with the agreed operationalised work programmes and conclusions of operational Working Groups responsible for the implementation of the MAP Mobility component. The recommendations also take into consideration that the measures foreseen for the reporting period have been fulfilled.
Policy: III.1. Mobility of Researchers
Objective: III.1.1. Removal of obstacles to mobility of researchers
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� Consider operationalisation of a regional work programme on Mobility of Researchers to ensure the full potential of regional cooperation is utilised to reinforce the continuing domestic efforts.
� Consider preparing a joint Western Balkan position on the next generation of the EU FP9 programme.
Policy: III.2. Mobility of Professionals
Objective: III.2.1. Removal of obstacles to recognition of professional qualifications
� Complete internal governmental procedures to open negotiations and appoint negotiating teams by 30 June 2018. Inform the RCC Secretary General of their position on opening negotiations and of the composition of their negotiating teams by the 30th of June 2018.
� Following the information on the appointments of the negotiating teams the RCC will convene the first meeting of the negotiators.
� Following the appointment of the negotiating teams the JWG on MRPQ will seize to exist.
� Ensure technical support of the relevant line DGs (DG GROW) throughout the negotiations.
� Explore possibilities to support institutional capacity building on the relevant EU acquis (the Directive on professional qualifications) to ensure technical capacity to conduct the negotiations and reinforce efforts to transpose the EU acquis at the level of individual economies.
Policy: III.3. Mobility of students and highly-skilled
Objective: III.3.1. Removal of obstacles to recognition of academic qualifications
� Finalise the concept of automatic recognition model for the WB6 by the end of 2018.
� Finalise the concept and launch the joint information system on recognition of academic qualifications by the end of 2018.
� Continue the joint exercise on recognition of academic qualifications.
� Kick-off the joint exercise on Diploma Supplement implementation by the end of 2018.
� Ensure technical support of the relevant line DGs (DG EAC) throughout the process to ensure alignment with the EU developments on recognition of academic qualifications.
� Explore opportunities for a comprehensive action to support the development of quality assurance systems across WB6 as an underlying condition for fast track and automatic recognition of academic qualifications.
1.6 DIGITAL INTEGRATIONOverall state of play/progress The objective of the MAP REA digital agenda-relat-ed actions is to integrate the region into the pan-European digital market on the basis of a future-proof digitisation strategy, an updated regulatory environment, improved broadband infrastructure and access as well as digital literacy. Embracing digital transformation, ensuring greater availability of digital infrastructure, and enabling better regu-latory framework and level playing field can help our region grow, increase the convergence rates with the EU, improve the business environment and encourage cross-border services; thus offering bet-ter life for the citizens.
The Western Balkan Enlargement Strategy puts great emphasis on WB6 Digital Agenda - being one of its flagships - and reconfirmed interest and in-volvement of EC in implementing this agenda. Moreover, the unprecedented dedication and work of Commissioner Gabriel and EC services has put the WB6 Digital Agenda in focus of EC work, making significant strides in integrating WB in EU’s current initiatives and frameworks such as the Western Bal-kans Investment Framework, the Broadband Com-petence Office Network, the Cross-border Digital Internship Scheme, the Digital Skills and Jobs Coa-lition, EU’s Code week initiative, etc.
The EU-Western Balkan Summit declaration reaf-firmed the importance of the WB6 Digital Agenda for the regional integration, having digital agenda included in the Sofia Priority Agenda and the State-ment of support for the Digital Agenda of WB6 en-dorsed by the WB6 Leaders. Moreover, during the Western Balkans Summit in Sofia EU announced fol-low-up actions in the area of connectivity, includ-ing €30 million in technical assistance for digital projects in the region. The Western Balkan Digital Agenda was launched during the Digital Assembly on 25-26 June 2016 to support the digital transfor-mation of the WB6 and prepare the region to inte-grate better into the EU Digital Market.
The MAP REA digital agenda is aligned to a great extent with strategic documents in particular with
the Economic Reform Programmes, as the key mid-term economic policy coordination documents. However, the EC assessment of ERPs highlights the need for WB6 economies to further focus on digi-tal agenda-related reform measures within ERPs. Some of the WB6 economies have prioritised digi-tal investment projects within their national single project pipelines (NSSPS).
The recently launched OECD Competitiveness Out-look 2018 recognises the positive steps undertaken by WB6 in expanding broadband and increasing access to e-business and e-commerce. Moreover, the analyses show that WB6 rank closely alongside the Central Europe and Baltics (CEB) in the Net-work Readiness Index of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
In addition, Network Readiness Index (NRI)26 for WB6 ranges from the lowest 3.0 points to the high-est 4.4 points in the Global Information Technol-ogy Report 2016; Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) - index 2017 - measured by Serbia is 0.3658, ranking it at 27 place; Cybersecurity Index 201727 shows that Bosnia and Herzegovina is at initiating stage while Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are at ma-turing stage.
The Balkan Barometer 2018 shows that half of the WB6 business community is satisfied with the digi-tal services across WB6 and compared to the last year there is a notable improvement in this con-text. On the contrary, in comparison with 2016 sur-vey results, public satisfaction with social life and accessibility of public services via a digital channel (online services, website, smartphone app) is sig-nificantly lower. For 38% of the public across WB6 the skills needed to be learnt or improved are pri-marily those related to digital/ICT competences.
The 2018 EU Enlargement report underlines that Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Mac-edonia are at moderate level of preparedness in chapter 10 of the EU ac-
26 World Economic Forum – Network Readiness Index measure the performance in leveraging information and communications technologies to boost competitiveness, innovation and well-being, on a scale from 1 to 7 points27 ITU Global Cybersecurity Index 2017
quis with Kosovo* and Bosnia and Herzegovina fol-lowing behind.
The WB6 Digital Summit which took place on 18-19 April 2018, in Skopje - the first ever organised in this format – reconfirmed the expressed willingness and commitment of WB6 to work on a regional digi-tal agenda for the benefits of its citizens and the region as a whole. The conclusions of the Digital Summit reaffirmed the commitment of WB6 to work on: digital skills, trust and security, digital connec-tivity and digital economy and society.
The reporting from WB6 on MAP REA state of im-plementation in the Digital Integration Component shows that WB6 are at a varied level of implemen-tation and preparation in the digital agenda (please see figure 4), less prepared in developing digitals skills and more advanced in roaming policy coordi-nation and promotion of the uptake of smart tech-nologies – although the scoring of the later is posi-tively affected by the successful completion of the WB6 Digital Summit and finalisation of the industry-led study “The Impact of Digital Transformation on the Western Balkans – Tackling the Challenges to-wards Political Stability and Economic Prosperity” rather than by any more comprehensive digitisation advances in WB6.
The results of the study suggest that the process of digital transformation of societies is growth-en-hancing for WB6. Hence, 10 percent increase in the digitisation index is associated with 0.63 percent of GDP growth; 1 percent increase in the digitisation index corresponds to 0.67 percent and 2.12 percent greater productivity in services and manufacturing; 1 percent digital transformation corresponds to 1.16 percent increase in employment.
Figure 4: Digital Integration - State of Preparedness of MAP REA Implementation in WB6 at the Level of Policies/Objectives
0
01
2
3
4
5
IV.1. Digital environment networks and
services connectivity and access
IV.2. Trustand security indigital services
IV.3. Digitaleconomy
and society
IV.4. Digitaleconomy andsociety, data
economy, standards and interoperability,
innovation
2.5 2.52.0
2.9
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WB6 have moderately advanced in harmonising do-mestic legislation with the respective EU acquis in the area of electronic communications, as part of the EU integration agenda. However, the monitor-ing of MAP REA implementation does not asses the level of compliance with the respective EU acquis but only takes note on completion of the legislative process.
The regional deliverables in digital agenda, facili-tated by RCC and jointly agreed by WB6 to be com-pleted prior to the upcoming high-level Summits in Sofia and London, are successfully implemented (please see Table 4).
Table 4: State of Play of the RCC-facilitated regional deliverables
Deliverables Output indicatorStructured high level regional political dialogue on WB6 digitisation through Annual WB6 Digital Summits based on full WB6 ownership and government-industry collaboration
Western Balkans Digital Summit held in Skopje, on 18-19 April 2018.
Strengthened cybersecurity capacities and enhanced regional cooperation amongst WB6 CSIRTs
RCC networked the CSIRTs from the Western Balkans and extended capacity building to their representatives. A regional project proposal on cybersecurity capacity building is prioritised in the SEE 2020 Programming Document 2018-2020 and presented in the Fourth Meeting on Donor Coordination.
Commitment to reduce roaming prices (intra WB and WB-EU)
Statement of support for the digital agenda for the Western Balkans endorsed at the occasion of the EU-WB6 Summit: “WB Leaders have agreed to support and facilitate the processes of lowering the roaming costs for the full coverage of consumers in the Western Balkans region”and“To support the implementation of a roadmap to facilitate lowering the costs of roaming, between the Western Balkans and the European Union” RCC commissioned Study to assess the impact of lowering roaming prices
Western Balkans is integrated in EU programmes and initiatives
Technical assistance for digital projects within WBIF
Western Balkans is integrated in Broadband Competence Office, digital cross-border traineeship initiative, EU’s Code week initiative;
At the EU-WB Summit in Sofia EU announced €30 million in technical assistance for digital projects, including broadband within WEBIF/IPA
Annual ICT regulatory dialogue WB6-EC launched First meeting of Western Balkan Regulators and BEREC was held on 15 June 2018
Digital Agenda for Western Balkans Launched on 25 June 2018 during the Digital Assembly
Scaled-up regional interventions on digital literacy and skills
To be announced during the London Summit
State of implementation at objective levelPolicy IV.1. Digital environment networks and services, connectivity and access
Objective IV.1.1. Boost digital infrastructure development and regional connectivity, while creating a level playing field for digital networks and services to flourishThe progress in transposing the EU Broadband Cost Reduction Directive is uneven; Albania and The For-mer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have already transposed it while the other three economies are at preparation stage. Montenegro plans to advance with the transposition during 2018 and adopt it by 2019, Kosovo* has prepared a first draft and TAIEX mission is foreseen to be held during 2018 to sup-port with the screening and Serbia is at preparation phase.
The preparation of the broadband infrastructure mapping is ongoing in all economies. Albania is in the process of updating the atlas of broadband in-frastructure; Montenegro started the process of mapping and advancement is expected in 2018; Serbia completed the mobile mapping and the fixed broadband mapping, as part of the new Law on Elec-tronic Communications, currently in the process of adoption; Kosovo* extended the broadband infra-structure – 4 pilot projects launched and contracts signed - 3 additional pilots expected to be launched by mid-2018 and Electronic Atlas on Broadband Tel-ecommunication Infrastructure is in the process of updating; in The Former Yugoslav Republic of Mac-edonia, the National Operational Broadband Plan is expected to be completed during 2018 and the mapping of current NGA infrastructure and identi-fying the areas for intervention (white zones) are finalised. There is good prospect for the broadband mapping to have mature advancement during 2018 in all WB6 economies although the action is to be completed by 2020.
Digital connectivity necessitates outstanding capi-tal investment in broadband, both from the national budgets as well as from private investors. There are some efforts underway in Albania and Serbia to as-sess overall capital investment needs in broadband infrastructure while in The Former Yugoslav Repub-lic of Macedonia the efforts are concentrated on assessing future public investment in areas where no commercial interest exists (so-called white are-as). Moreover, digital has become an eligible sector for WBIF funding as of its last Steering Committee
meeting, with the first digital application endorsed at the WBIF SC meeting in June 2018. The EU an-nounced EUR 30 million support to develop digital projects, including broadband.
The regional dialogue and exchange on business and PPP models to address low connectivity and commercialisation of the spare fibre optic assets is at an early stage. On the annual International Regu-latory Conference 201828 dialogue for strengthening cooperation amongst the regulatory authorities in the region related to the latest developments in the ICT sector and boosting broadband access was established. Although there are developments in each economy in this regard, there is a need to fur-ther improve regional cooperation to share experi-ence and similarities amongst the WB6 economies. In Serbia, the EBRD-led project launched in 2016 will support identification of cost needed for fur-ther broadband development – including potential business/financing models for development. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia intends to establish BCO to improve broadband connectivity in rural areas. In addition, the economy-level intra-sectoral dialogue has been established, especially in view of the ongoing World Bank’s study. Mapping of potential spare optic fibre in almost all econo-mies has been undertaken and awareness on the need to optimise their use has increased. There is a need though to establish a proper regional dia-logue upon the completion of the World Bank study, which should provide information and identify com-mercial models for addressing spare fibre capaci-ties.
Four out of six regulators from WB6 have an ob-server status to BEREC and their dialogue within the context of BEREC is improving. There is a need though to define proper mechanisms for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo* to become associated in this dialogue. Ways to strengthen the regional di-alogue amongst WB6 regulators as part of BEREC need to be explored and further strengthened. The first BEREC-Western Balkan meeting was held in the margins of the BEREC plenary session on 15 June 2018 discussing the possible cooperation between BEREC, EU National Regulatory Authorities and WB National Regulatory Authorities. The first meet-ing focused on regulatory issues and may lead to follow-up activities aiming to share knowledge, ex-pertise and the best practice.
28 http://www.aec.mk/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=2247&Itemid=465&lang=mk - organised by The Former Yugoslav Republic of Republic of Macedonia, on 15-16 of May 2018
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The regional interconnection and integration into pan-European GÉANT is not complete - Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo* are not integrated in GÉ-ANT yet while in The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia only one university is integrated in the network - two more state universities are to be connected through MARNET to GÉANT in 2018. Al-though regional interconnection and integration is to be completed by 2023, advancement/improve-ment can be reached through regional actions. To this end, a proposal on cross-border connectivity of WB NRENs is prioritised in the SEE2020 Program-ming Document 2018-2020 – to be further devel-oped should assistance be secured.
Objective IV.1.2. Harmonise spectrum policy to ensure timely and efficient availability and boost deployment of standardised 5G networksWB6 economies are at an uneven level of prepara-tion in spectrum policy harmonisation. Regulatory and institutional frameworks that provide for ef-ficient overall spectrum management are in place across the region – with uneven development in freeing up frequencies. Albania, Bosnia and Her-zegovina and Kosovo* have not completed the DSO process; in Albania, it is expected that 70% of the population will be covered with digital service by mid-2018; in Montenegro -700 MHz is free and available for mobile radio communication service; in Kosovo*, the tendering to allow the use of cur-rently unused mobile spectrum is underway.
Broader coordination on radio spectrum issues takes place within RSPG regional group, SEDDIF as well as within WRC-19 preparatory process. A mul-tilateral framework agreement between all SEDDIF members (with the exception of Albania) is already signed in December 2017. Initial regional dialogue on spectrum policy harmonisation took place at the Western Balkans Roaming Policy Meeting, held in April 2018 in Brussels. Good progress is being made in 5G in Montenegro – speeds for 5G prepared and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – sec-ondary legislation to implement 5G technology prepared. Upon request from Albania, a dedicated meeting on spectrum policy harmonisation and WB6 readiness for 5G networks was held on 12 June 2018 in Prague, back-to-back with ITU Regional Develop-ment Forum for Europe.
On World Radio Conference (WRC) participation and cooperation, economies participate indepen-dently in WRC’s work. Kosovo*, not part of WRC, has expressed interest to participate in its work
and other regional groups related to spectrum policy management. Yet, no regional discussion has started on having potential regional positions on aspects of joint interest on WRC, CEPT/ECO. WB6 part-took for the first time at the COM-ITU/CEPT Meeting, held in Prague on 12 June 2018.
Objective IV. 1.3. Coordinate roaming policies towards a roaming free economic areaGood progress is being made in harmonising region-al roaming policies. Regional Roaming Agreement amongst 4 economies (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and The Former Yugoslav Re-public of Macedonia) is successfully implemented29. The WB6 Roaming Policy meeting held in Brussels on 5th April 2018 underlined the trends in the 4 participating economies, highlighting the need to focus more on data rather than voice. Moreover, the WB6 confirmed their willingness to extend the scope of the agreement and work on a new succes-sor agreement, potentially with provisions of RLAH within WB6. Experience of EU in particular for RLAH model will be further explored and used. Al-bania and Kosovo* have expressed their willingness to join RRA and official letters to inform other 4 economies are submitted. Technical and procedural consultations will follow in this regard. Moreover, WB6 have committed to support and facilitate the processes of lowering the roaming costs for the full coverage of consumers in the Western Balkans re-gion and implementation of a roadmap to facilitate lowering the costs of roaming between the Western Balkans and the European Union30.
WB6 economies discuss coordination of roaming policy in regular regional meetings and there is an expressed willingness and need to continue this di-alogue, in the future, with the help and facilitation of RCC and EU.
RCC has commissioned a study to assess the impact of abolishment of roaming charges with the EU, with the consultancy procurement finalised and the first findings and results already prepared. A Roadmap to facilitate lowering the costs of roaming, based on voluntary commercial agreement and made in an inclusive approach, as part of the Enlargement Strategy’s WB6 Digital Agenda will be prepared by
29 The wholesale and retail prices were reduced at the level of Roaming III Regulation (i.e. Regulation (EU) No 531/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2012 on roaming on public mobile communications networks within the Union Text with EEA relevance)30 The Statement of support for the digital agenda for the Western Balkans endorsed at the occasion of the EU-WB6 Summit
EC. There are series of roundtables and discussions organised by Commissioner Gabriel with the opera-tors to support the process of roadmap preparation. The Digital Agenda for Western Balkans, launched on 25 June 2018, will cover lowering the cost of roaming, deployment of broadband, development of e-Government, e-Procurement, e-Health, and digital skills, capacity building in digital trust and security, in parallel to efforts to enhance digitali-sation of industries, adoption, implementation and enforcement of the acquis (see also the figure be-low).
Policy IV.2. Trust and security in digital services
Objective IV.2.1. Enhance Cyber Security, trust services and data protectionThe WB6 economies have adopted relevant policies and legislation for privacy (Directive (2002/58/EC), data protection and digital security. Albania, Ko-sovo*, Montenegro and Serbia have adopted dedi-cated cybersecurity strategies while The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is at final stages of approval. No uniform progress in implementa-tion of the strategies amongst WB6 is noted. The EU Network and Information Security Directive (NIS) is transposed in Albania and Serbia. Montenegro partially implemented NIS Directive31 whilst other economies are in process of preparation and/or in public consultation phase. WB6 lacks the capaci-ties to implement the requirements of Annex 1 of the NIS Directive, thus a proposal on capacity build-
31 CSIRT Team was established, Law on Information Security has been adopted, critical information infrastructure was defined and two cybersecurity strategies have been adopted, 1st 2013-2017, 2nd 2018-2021
ing in the area of cybersecurity is prioritised in the SEE2020 Programming Document 2018-2020.
Process of critical IT infrastructure identification and the respective legislative approval is ongoing: Albania and Kosovo* already adopted the legisla-tive acts on critical IT infrastructure; Serbia has identified and adopted the list of ICT systems of particular importance for the public interest, and adopted and implemented internal procedures to report significant incidents; in The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia many of the critical infra-structure operators were identified, but there is no official decision on identification of critical IT infrastructure; and in Montenegro the Methodology and its Action Plan for selecting critical informa-tion infrastructure have been adopted - critical sectors and services as well as critical information systems were defined, the Decree on measures for the protection of critical information infrastructure in accordance with the Amendments to the Law on Information Security is to be adopted in the third quarter of 2018. There is no explicit input from the economies on the level of protection of critical IT infrastructure.
All WB6 have established Computer Security In-cident Response Teams (CSIRTs). Although under-developed and lacking capacity, CSIRTs from WB6 have participated in different bilateral or regional events in the area of cybersecurity. CSIRT from The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has signed memorandums of understanding with the CSIRTs from Kosovo* and Albania and regarding other gov-ernment CSIRTs from WB economies the signing of MoUs is ongoing. Albania is also working on having MoUs with other CSIRTs.
RCC networked the CSIRTs from the Western Bal-kans and provided capacity building to their rep-resentatives. The discussion in this regional format will continue and the discussion will be further for-malised through the establishment of permanent groups in the area of cybersecurity with members from ICT ministries and Regulators. A Regional Con-ference of CSIRTs proposed by The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is to be organised in Octo-ber 2018, during the European Cybersecurity month and will gather representatives and heads of all the CSIRTs from the broader region, including all WB6 economies.
Following on the WB6 Digital Summit conclusions, RCC has recently established communication with ENISA in an effort to facilitate WB6 participation in ENISA activities.
FOCUS AREAS OF THEDIGITAL AGENDA FORWESTERN BALKANS
LOWERINGROAMING CHARGES
CONNECTIVITY
CYBERSECURITY, TRUSTAND DIGITALISATION OFINDUSTRY
DIGITAL ECONOMY &SOCIETY
RESEARCH &INNOVATION
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Policy IV.3. Digital economy and society, Inclusive digital society
Objective IV.3.1. Develop and strengthen supply of digital skills
The need to address digital skills development is commonly recognised by WB6. The digital economy allows and encourages remote work and it opens up a world of opportunities for young people, wom-en and disadvantaged groups and the society as a whole. The effort should be focused to identify skills necessary for government leaders, civil serv-ants, and other citizens, especially women, youth and disadvantaged groups and private sector to ac-quire digital economy competencies.
The progress in developing digital skills across WB6 is uneven although some attempts to develop digi-tal skills programmes exist. Hence, Serbia is at the final stage of approval of the Digital Skill Develop-ment Strategy and the Action Plan for IT Industry Development is approved; Kosovo* has undertaken a study on digital skills with the support of the World Bank aiming to develop a programme focus-ing on young people; Albania has addressed digital skills as part the Strategy for Secondary Education. In The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, National Comprehensive Education Strategy 2018-2025 was adopted in January 2018, where one of the priorities is ensuring widespread use of ICT in education, training and digital literacy at all lev-els (i.e. pre-school, primary education, secondary education, vocational education and trainings, uni-versity, etc.) and a new Law on Mathematics and Information Gymnasium was adopted in April 2018. A proposal on digital skills and competences is pri-oritised within the SEE2020 Programming Document 2018-2020. WB6 Digital Summit also recognised the need to work on digital skills programmes - reaf-firming the interest towards integration within the EU Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition, by endorsing the objectives and principles of the Coalition.
Some of the economies have invested efforts in training and increase of knowledge in digital skill for targeted groups. In Kosovo*, Ministry of Eco-nomic Development supported by the World Bank implemented the project Women in Online Work (WoW) – trainings were carried out for unemployed and under-employed young women in 5 munici-palities, and additional trainings are carried out through the support of USAID and Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation, with plans of the Government to scale up the work; Serbia is at an advanced stage of preparing a dedicated Digital Skills Strategy; The
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is prepar-ing a National ICT Strategy – roadmap to be final-ised in August 2018 and the draft of the strategy by December 2018 – and has conducted trainings for basic IT skills and advanced IT skills for the unem-ployed.
There are also mature projects targeting digital skills to be implemented in some economies: in Ko-sovo* a 3 MEUR EU IPA 2017 project is being rolled out to develop capacities for digital economy and support for digital businesses; in The Former Yugo-slav Republic of Macedonia trainings for advanced IT skills under IPA projects are ongoing - the first cen-tre in The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the region, HubIT, under USAID Social Inclusion Project, was opened in Skopje, offering services to young people with disabilities and enabling them to start careers in the IT sector; in Serbia the Gov-ernment offers incentives to NGOs providing digital upskilling for women – as part of the IT Industry De-velopment Strategy and is funding projects to train retirees in ICT during the first half of 2018. Finally, the World Bank is currently mobilising resources to implement a WB6 wide project dealing with digital skills and scaled-up regional interventions in digital literacy and skills to be launched during the London Summit.
Policy IV.4. Digitization, Data economy, Standards and Interoperability, Innovation
Objective IV.4.1. Promote uptake of Smart Technologies and Accelerate DigitizationThe WB6 High-level Digital Summit organised on 18-19 April 2018, in Skopje - the first ever in this format – reconfirmed willingness and commitment of WB6 to work on a regional digital agenda for the benefit of its citizens and economies. This Summit established a structured high-level regional politi-cal dialogue on WB6 digitisation - based on full WB6 ownership and government-industry collaboration and reconfirmed the commitment to engage in a permanent dialogue in this area. Prominent speak-ers from the region, EU institutions, international organisations, academia, civil society and success-ful businesses offered a great platform for discus-sion on all aspects of digital transformation of the WB6 and underlined the challenges ahead. Through the Digital Summit conclusions, the WB6 commit-ted to work on digital skills, trust and security, digi-tal connectivity and digital economy and society. The next Digital Summit will be held in Serbia and RCC will support its co-organisation.
The industry-led study The Impact of Digital Trans-formation on the Western Balkans –Tackling the Challenges towards Political Stability and Economic Prosperity was presented during the WB6 Digital Summit. The extent to which the study’s recom-mendations will be translated in domestic policies or regional actions will be discussed within regional mechanisms.
With respect to Data Economy, except for Koso-vo*, all WB6 economies are members of the Open Government Partnership initiative. Discussion on regional coordination on OPG can be further pro-moted through regional mechanism, such as the e-Government Working Group operating under ReS-PA’s auspices, with a view of jointly formulating fu-ture activities in areas that include e-Government/Open Government/Open Data, and e-Participation.
Currently, all WB6 economies have established forms of central portals for open data and regular updates of data are carried out. The data in the upgraded central open data portal of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia can be exchanged with the Central Europe open data portal and may be available to any interested WB6 economy; in Al-bania the central portal offers 550 online services to businesses and citizens, a policy on open data is adopted in February 2018 and a special agency on open dialogue established during 2017; Kosovo* has already established a central portal that aims to improve public services and increase public integri-ty. No regional dialogue exists as of yet on potential regional exchange of data.
All WB6 economies have adopted e-authentica-tion frameworks and made progress in improving their e-authentication schemes. In addition, WB6 economies have different level of harmonisation of domestic legislation with eIDAS regulation, with Albania, Serbia and Montenegro having already transposed eIDAS in new laws, and in The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia the new draft law is in the process of public consultation. E-govern-ment services are gradually being aligned with the National Interoperability Frameworks which are functional in Albania, The Former Yugoslav Repub-lic of Macedonia, recently approved in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to a certain extent in Serbia where e-government services are not yet deployed on the e-NIF framework. A regional project intervention on the cross-border recognition of the certificates with e-signature is jointly prioritised by WB6 in the SEE 2020 Programming Document 2018-2020.
Across the region there are several digital hubs and innovation parks. Most have been developed with
donor funding (including EU, the World Bank, GIZ, USAID and other bilateral donors), private sector funding, or both. The pan-European network of Dig-ital Innovation Hubs Catalogue Project lists around 20 hubs from the region and provides opportunities for cooperation, as do Horizon 2020 and EU Ter-ritorial and Cross-border Programmes. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has a Fund for Inno-vation and Technology Development for supporting innovative projects; feasibility study for establish-ment of Science and Technology Park in The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has started. Addi-tionally, the project innovation ecosystem in the cross-border area has commenced as part of the IPA 2 Cross-Border Programme between The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania. Ser-bia has also set up an innovation fund while other economies have started introducing different inno-vation voucher schemes on a smaller scale.
Obstacles and challenges The implementation of the digital component of the MAP REA encounters difficulties and risks that need to be addressed both at domestic and region-al level. The main challenges relate to capacity of public administration to comply with this demand-ing agenda, availability of technical assistance to implement many of the actions put forward in MAP REA and capital investment mainly for broadband infrastructure.
The challenges in implementing digital integration component measures entail:
� The level of harmonisation of the legislation with the respective EU acquis is uneven across WB6 as economies are at different stages of EU integration process, associated with different dynamics of the legislative harmonisation process. This may in certain areas collide with the need to have regional positions or regional actions and therefore due attention should be given.
� Administrative capacities and capacity of the domestic structures are not at the level necessary to successfully implement some of the measures. Strengthening the capacities of the structures across all areas of the digital agenda is jointly recognised by the WB6 economies. In particular, in the area of cybersecurity (i.e. WB6 CSIRTS), WB6 digitisation (i.e. agencies dealing with open data, e-services and e-government) require dedicated capacity building programmes to ensure effective implementation of the actions put in MAP REA.
42 43
Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
� General level of knowledge and skills in the area of digital integration needs to be increased. Although MAP REA anticipates regional training programmes for several target groups, namely citizens, IT specialists, women and people from disadvantaged groups, etc. a holistic approach to digital skills and competences is needed. Private sector and government digital skills needs should also be addressed and tailor-made training programmes need to be prepared.
� Having regional positions in many areas of the WB6 digital agenda is essential. This is particularly important in the area of cybersecurity, where the impact across the region will be high, and in spectrum policy coordination. There is no specific mechanism or instrument to achieve this and therefore additional efforts should be invested to explore prospective regional tools to be used in this respect.
� WB6 needs to increase its exposure to EU programmes and initiatives – there are actions intended to facilitate the participation of WB6 in several EU programmes, initiatives and institutions. It is unclear how this can be achieved as it involves a broader group of economies than just the WB6. This also necessitates a proactive and positive response by EU institutions and other potential partners involved.
Recommendations and next stepsThis section provides in a blueprint the main rec-ommendations and next steps for all objectives un-der the Digital Integration Component. The recom-mendations intend to offer a solution to the main findings and/or needs anticipated in the state of implementation section.
IV.1. Digital environment networks and services, connectivity and accessIV.1.1. Boost digital infrastructure development and regional connectivity, while creating a level playing field for digital networks and services to flourish
� Advance with the transposition of EU Directive 2014/61/EU in all WB6 and complete the broadband infrastructure mapping.
� Launch the regional dialogue on business incentive models and PPPs to address low connectivity. Organise a regional workshop during the second half of 2018.
� Participate in the new EU Broadband Competence Office (BCO) Network initiative and establish BCOs.
� Intensify the regulatory dialogue amongst all WB6 regulators and intensify the launched WB6-EC regulatory dialogue.
� Complete regional interconnection and integration into the pan-European GÉANT.
� Utilise the available technical assistance in relation to digital connectivity projects, including broadband infrastructure mapping, zoning and identification of most suitable business models or through WBIF.
IV.1.2. Harmonise spectrum policy to ensure timely and efficient availability and boost de-ployment of standardised 5G networks
� Finalise DSO in the whole region, i.e. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo*.
� Improve regional cooperation on spectrum coordination with a view to address spectrum coordination needs in WB6.
� Launch regional discussion amongst regulators ahead of ECO, CEPT meetings as well as before WRCs to align regional positions for issues of joint interest.
IV. 1.3. Coordinate roaming policies towards a roaming free economic area
� Continue the processes of lowering the roaming costs for the full coverage of consumers in the Western Balkans region.
� Support the implementation of a roadmap to facilitate lowering the costs of roaming, between the Western Balkans and the European Union.
IV.2.Trust and security in digital servicesIV.2.1. Enhance Cybersecurity, trust services and data protection
� Complete the transposition of the EU Directive 2016/1148/EU.
� Complete the identification of the critical IT infrastructures and seek technical assistance to support the WB6 economies in implementing the requirements of Annex of the EU NIS Directive.
� Build CSIRTs capacity and strengthen the regional CSIRT network, as well as promote regional cooperation on NIS dialogue and information exchange amongst WB6 CSIRTs.
� Organise the Regional Conference of CSIRTs with a view to share experience amongst WB6 CSIRTs and other advanced CSIRTs from EU or other partners.
� Establish cooperation with ENISA including on NIS alignment process and preparation of cybersecurity strategies.
� Establish forms of cooperation to ensure transfer of knowledge amongst WB6 economies and coordination with partners/organisations active in the area of cybersecurity.
IV.3. Digital economy and society, Inclusive digital societyIV.3.1. Develop and strengthen supply of digital skills
� Engage in regional discussion to define ways in developing digital skills; pilot a regional intervention aimed at enhancing basic digital skills for citizens to engage online; support the WB6 to implement the EU Digital Competence Framework.
� Pilot a regional intervention aimed at enhancing skills for IT specialists and IT skills for government officials.
� Scale up pilots already implemented in the region such as WoW, aiming to mobilise and upskill youth, women, and people with disabilities.
� Scale up the British Council’s pilot project on digital literacy and skills.
� Explore ways how to better integrate WB6 economies in the EU New Skills Agenda for Europe and the EU Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition initiative.
IV.4. Digitisation, Data economy, Standards and Interoperability, InnovationIV.4.1. Promote uptake of Smart Technologies and Accelerate Digitisation
� Advance with the preparations of the National Interoperability Frameworks in the economies that have not done it so far. Exchange experience and ensure peer-to-peer learning from advanced economies.
� Coordinate regional activities on interoperability standards and facilitate alignment of standards, complementarity of interoperability frameworks and introduce a pan-European dimension, in line with the European Interoperability Framework (EIF).
� Involve private sector to assess the multi-faceted benefits of the online platforms and online services.
� Launch a structured dialogue amongst the appropriate regional authorities responsible
for harmonisation and implementation of legislation with eIDAS regulation.
� Launch a structured dialogue amongst the appropriate regional authorities to standardise and improve the quality of open data portals and explore potentials to regionally exchange of available data.
� Start preparations to organise the up-coming WB6 Digital Summit in Belgrade. Re-convene the Steering Committee meeting to contribute to an early and structured multi-stakeholder dialogue in this respect.
Conclusions and recommendationsThe MAP REA implementation is an ambitious en-deavour and a credible monitoring and reporting function is essential, both in demonstrating the progress being made, as well as in maintaining the momentum across WB6.
MAP REA actions are increasingly internalised in domestic strategic documents and implementa-tion is in progress. While political commitment is present, the complexity of MAP REA necessitates strong cooperation between MAP Coordinators and Component Contact Points and line ministries, and efficient intra-governmental coordination. This is not always the case – this report does not include inputs from all WB6.
The Western Balkans Enlargement Strategy rec-ognised the importance of the Regional Economic Area, putting it in the core of the EU accession pro-cess. The Enlargement Strategy’s Action Plan em-beds a considerable number of MAP REA measures. Thus, pro-active involvement, advice and guidance of line DGs and DEUs in the implementation of MAP REA will be needed. Furthermore, technical assis-tance, capacity building and direct implementation support extended through EU-funded actions will be instrumental in achieving MAP REA goals. The Declaration made at the Western Balkans Summit in Sofia on 17 May 2018 calls for urgent action to implement the Multi-annual Action Plan for the Development of a Regional Economic Area and an-nounces the continued EU support in the efforts in-vested by Western Balkans. Moreover, the Vienna Economy Ministerial meeting and London Summit are also expected to take stock of progress on REA and reaffirm future commitments towards full im-plementation of REA Roadmap.
Several actions planned under MAP REA are sched-uled to begin implementation at a later date, or their start is dependent on other processes, out-
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Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
side of the scope of MAP REA. This depreciates the overall scores as well and it should be taken into consideration when assessing the level of progress made by the WB6 economies so far.
Coordination at economy level needs to be im-proved, so as to ensure adequate representation at the regional platforms and effective chain of deci-sion making, which is to contribute to more success-ful implementation of the agreed measures on the individual economy level and consequently regional level. Moreover, where needed, experts should be properly mandated to ensure decision making.
Regional investment reform agenda has been adopted with the next step of translating it into na-tional action plans. The South East Europe Invest-ment Committee (SEEIC) will continue to be the main platform for supporting the regional invest-ment reform agenda, nevertheless economies still need to establish focus groups on the domestic lev-el which will discuss and steer proposed concrete policy reforms. The capacities of the relevant insti-tutions should be increased especially when talking about Investment Promotion Agencies, both human and financial. Western Balkan economies will have to agree on specific sectors they want to promote internationally and work jointly towards develop-ment of Joint Investment Promotion Initiative with the aim of promoting WB6 as a single investment destination. What is evident in most of the econo-mies is that investment laws are in place, but what is missing is adequate implementation. There is ev-ident need for further support of diversification of financial markets, particularly capital markets and development of alternative financing instruments in all economies. Needs assessment should be car-ried out for development of a regional strategy for capital markets development.
The Western Balkan Enlargement Strategy empha-sised the need to ensure full integration of the WB6 into the European Research Area and the European Higher Education Area to ensure integration of the students, researchers and academics into the exist-ing European networks providing additional impe-tus to the Mobility component of MAP.
The Mobility agenda has seen dynamic progress, in particular in reaching the key milestone in re-moving obstacles to recognition of professional and academic qualifications. These efforts are particu-larly timely as the European Higher Education Area Ministerial Conference reinforced the importance of recognition of academic qualifications and as the EU is preparing a Communication of Recogni-tion of Academic Qualifications to be endorsed by
the EU Council during the Austrian Presidency of the EU. Furthermore, the Sofia Declaration of the EU – Western Balkans Summit calls for stepping up work on recognition of qualifications.
Further implementation will require increased ad-ministrative capacities of the authorities involved in the two processes. To support the implementa-tion, technical assistance to build further the insti-tutional capacities of the relevant authorities will be needed. However, more importantly, the two processes open possibilities to support synergies with the European processes, domestic efforts to transpose the relevant EU acquis and to integrate further into existing European institutions. To en-able the positives overspills and release the poten-tial of the multiplying effects contained in these two agendas it is essential to ensure additional fi-nancial resources and technical assistance of the line DGs, in particular DG GROW and DG EAC.
The recognition agenda profited from the existing operationalised work plans, a similar joint work plan is missing in the agenda on the Mobility of Re-searchers. This is partly due to the nature of the actions, which are predominantly in the domain of each economy. However, benefits could be drawn from a joint work plan which would support further the domestic efforts. The potential to influence the next generation of EU programmes for the WB6 should not be missed. The joint activities and the existing regional cooperation for R&D would enable an effective preparation of joint positions if the re-gion wished to do so.
The Digital Integration Component envisages a regional approach to the Digital Agenda for WB6 economies, reinforced further by the Enlarge-ment Strategy and its flagship, to support digital infrastructure development and improved regional connectivity, harmonised spectrum policies, coor-dinated roaming policies, enhanced cybersecurity, trust services and data protection, and cooperation in policies that stimulate the data economy. WB6 record a mixed level of preparedness in the digi-tal integration. The EU reports 2018 underline that Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and The Former Yugo-slav Republic of Macedonia are at a moderate level of preparation in digital agenda while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo* are lagging a bit behind. The reporting from WB6 on MAP REA state of im-plementation in the Digital Integration Component shows that WB6 are at a varied level of implemen-tation and preparation in the digital agenda, less prepared in developing digitals skills and more ad-vanced in roaming policy coordination and promo-tion of the uptake of smart technologies.
WB6 have implemented all regional RCC facili-tated deliverables in digital integration. Hence, WB6 Digital Summit held in Skopje on 18-19 April 2018, co-organised by RCC, reconfirmed political commitment to work on a regional digital agenda. Moreover, a structured high-level regional political dialogue on digitisation is established, based on full WB ownership and government-industry col-laboration; Regional Roaming Agreement has been successfully implemented leading to substantial decrease of the roaming prices and WB6 have ex-pressed the commitment to continue the processes of lowering the roaming costs for the full coverage of consumers in the Western Balkans region. This effort will be complementary to the EU-led efforts on Roadmap for lowering roaming costs between Western Balkans and EU.; cybersecurity capacities have been strengthened and regional cooperation amongst WB6 CSIRTs enhanced through the estab-lished network of CSIRTs from the Western Balkans.
Finally, the monitoring of the MAP REA implementa-tion poses particular challenges listed as follows:
i. Measures that are continuous in nature are not action oriented or where tangible outputs are difficult to define or quantify require a more systematic effort within the regional structures to properly define intermediary measures and milestones, to articulate the desired outputs, as well as to identify the outcomes and impact, within a coherent logical framework. Moreover, these measures are not properly reported from the economies nor adequately scored, as the progress assessment for these meas-ures is usually “on-going”. To this end, regional mechanism should address the concern to find feasible and appropriate so-lutions;
ii. Non-actionable measures need further de-tailing – many of the measures put forward by MAP REA require additional activities/milestones/steps in order for the action to be implemented. For example – “Coor-dinate regional positions….”; “Initiate re-gional cooperation…”; “Foster cooperation ….”, etc. There is a need for these types of actions to be further detailed;
iii. Reporting from the economies does not re-late in full and directly to the implemen-tation of MAP REA measures (i.e. activities and steps undertaken from July 2017) but it rather offers the state of play under all actions. This does not allow monitoring the
progress and risks to replicate the findings of the MAP REA Stock Taking and Needs As-sessment Report. The reporting from the WB6 economies should be improved to al-low monitoring of progress, and RCC will work with MAP NCs and MAP CCPs to assist in providing further details/methodologies to streamline the inputs;
iv. Limited availability of technical assistance – almost all measures of MAP REA, except for some of the measures in the Investment Component, require technical assistance for successful implementation. RCC facilitated the process of identification of the regional technical assistance needs, preceded by a self-identification of needs from each WB6 economy and validated through the consul-tation processes in all WB6 during February 2018. This has been further digested and systematised into practical regional inter-ventions projects included in the SEE2020 Programming Document 2018-2020 and pre-sented during the Fourth Meeting on Donor Coordination. Regional interventions can be further developed should the financial as-sistance be secured;
v. Use of existing funds – for some of the iden-tified needs, in particular capacity building on all MAP REA components, the existing TAIEX instrument could be more proactively used, especially in terms of outlining a pre-dictable pipeline of capacity building ac-tivities.
vi. Scores at the level of objectives are cal-culated as simple averages of all meas-ures-level scores within a given objective. Hence, in objectives where the progress of each measure therein varies the approach used for the scoring may create mispercep-tions in regard to the implementation sta-tus of a specific measure.
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Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
ANN
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3 –
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isk
man
agem
ent.
2
I.
1.
5.
De
velo
pin
g m
utua
l co
-o
pe
rati
on
be
tw
ee
n m
arke
t su
r-v
eil
lan
ce
cont
rol
au-
thor
itie
s of
CE
FTA
Par-
ties
a. D
evel
opin
g a
tim
efra
me
for
mut
ual
coop
era-
tion
bet
wee
n m
arke
t su
rvei
llanc
e au
thor
itie
s20
18-2
019
The
MR
of b
orde
r do
cum
ents
in t
he c
onte
xt o
f AP
5 m
ay f
acili
tate
th
e di
scus
sion
am
ongs
t m
arke
t su
rvei
llanc
e au
thor
itie
s.2
b. M
appi
ng t
he r
egul
ator
y re
quir
emen
ts f
or M
u-tu
al R
ecog
niti
on A
gree
men
t (M
RA)
in o
ne s
uppl
y ch
ain,
as
sele
cted
by
the
proj
ect
Supp
ort
to F
a-ci
litat
ion
of T
rade
bet
wee
n CE
FTA
Part
ies
2017
-201
8Th
e CE
FTA
Stru
ctur
es a
re a
vaila
ble
to p
rovi
de t
he o
ffici
al p
latf
orm
fo
r th
e to
pic
in t
he u
pcom
ing
peri
od.
3
c. D
evel
op t
he t
imef
ram
e to
con
clud
e M
RA, b
ased
on
EU
com
plia
nce,
on
the
sele
cted
sup
ply
chai
n20
18-2
019
The
CEFT
A St
ruct
ures
are
ava
ilabl
e to
pro
vide
the
offi
cial
pla
tfor
m
for
the
topi
c in
the
upc
omin
g pe
riod
.1
d. A
sses
s po
tent
ials
to
exte
nd M
RA in
oth
er s
uppl
y ch
ains
wit
h re
gion
al in
tere
st20
19-2
020
The
CEFT
A St
ruct
ures
are
ava
ilabl
e to
pro
vide
the
offi
cial
pla
tfor
m
for
the
topi
c in
the
upc
omin
g pe
riod
.1
48 49
Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.I.
2. H
arm
onis
atio
n of
CEF
TA M
arke
ts w
ith
the
EUI
.2
.1
. E
ns
ur
ing
the
appl
ica-
tion
of
SAP+
an
d Fu
ll Cu
-m
ulat
ion
a. S
usta
inin
g un
inte
rrup
ted
appl
icat
ion
of S
AP +
2017
-201
8CE
FTA
Part
ies
regu
larl
y at
tend
the
PEM
Joi
nt C
omm
itte
e m
eeti
ngs
and
emph
asis
e th
e im
port
ance
of
unin
terr
upte
d im
plem
enta
tion
of
SAP
+ cu
mul
atio
n.4
b. S
tart
of
Appl
icat
ion
of F
ull
cum
ulat
ion
and
duty
dra
wba
ck in
CEF
TA20
19-2
019
1 Ju
ly 2
019
adop
ted
by t
he J
C as
sin
gle
date
for
the
sta
rt o
f im
-pl
emen
tati
on o
f fu
ll cu
mul
atio
n an
d du
ty d
raw
back
.4
I.
2.
2.
Po
ten
tia
l ap
pro
xim
a-ti
on o
f CE
F-TA
M
FN
to
EU C
ET
a. I
mpa
ct a
sses
smen
t of
app
roxi
mat
ion
of C
EFTA
M
FN r
ates
wit
h th
e EU
Com
mon
Ext
erna
l Tar
iff20
18-2
018
The
prep
arat
ion
of r
elev
ant
proj
ect
docu
men
ts is
in p
rogr
ess.
4
I.3.
Cre
atin
g N
TMs
and
TDM
fre
e Re
gion
I.
3.
1.
Ad
min
is-
trat
ive
Co-
op
era
tio
n b
et
we
en
Com
peti
tion
an
d St
ate
Aid
Mon
itor
-in
g A
utho
ri-
ties
a. D
evel
opin
g th
e in
stru
men
ts f
or i
nfor
mat
ion
exch
ange
bet
wee
n Co
mpe
titi
on a
nd S
tate
Aid
Au-
thor
itie
s20
19-2
020
The
CEFT
A St
ruct
ures
are
ava
ilabl
e to
pro
vide
the
offi
cial
pla
tfor
m
for
the
topi
c in
the
upc
omin
g pe
riod
.1
b. F
ull
and
sust
aina
ble
repo
rtin
g of
sta
te a
id in
-cl
udin
g st
ate
aid
sche
mes
and
mea
sure
s 20
18-2
019
The
legi
slat
ion
is a
lrea
dy in
pla
ce in
CEF
TA f
or s
tate
aid
rep
orti
ng.
The
repo
rts
deliv
ered
by
the
CEFT
A Pa
rtie
s ne
ed t
o be
upd
ated
.1
c.
Enha
nce
coop
erat
ion
amon
gst
com
peti
tion
au
thor
itie
s by
sup
port
ing
the
esta
blis
hmen
t of
a
stru
ctur
ed n
etw
ork
to f
oste
r pe
er le
arni
ng20
18-2
023
The
CEFT
A St
ruct
ures
are
ava
ilabl
e to
pro
vide
the
offi
cial
pla
tfor
m
for
the
topi
c in
the
upc
omin
g pe
riod
.2
I.
3.
2.
Eli
min
at-
ing
and
re-
mai
ning
dis
-cr
imin
ator
y pr
acti
ces
in
publ
ic
pro-
cu
rem
en
t m
arke
ts
a. M
onit
orin
g th
e el
imin
atio
n of
rem
aini
ng d
is-
crim
inat
ory
prac
tice
s in
pub
lic p
rocu
rem
ent
mar
-ke
ts
2017
-201
8Th
e re
sult
s of
the
CEF
TA fi
nanc
ed p
roje
ct f
or m
onit
orin
g th
e pu
b-lic
pro
cure
men
t w
ill b
e av
aila
ble
soon
.4
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.I
.3
.3
. S
ys
te
mic
M
on
ito
r-
ing
of N
TMs
in
trad
e in
go
ods
and
serv
ices
a. E
mpl
oyin
g de
terr
ing
mon
itor
ing
and
enfo
rce-
men
t m
echa
nism
s to
elim
inat
e an
y re
mai
ning
N
TBs
2018
-202
0Th
e CE
FTA
Mar
ket
Acce
ss B
arri
ers
Data
base
is u
p an
d ru
nnin
g.3
I.4.
Fac
ilita
tion
of
free
tra
de in
ser
vice
s
I.4.
1.
Imp
lem
en
-ta
tion
of
CE
FTA
Ad-
dit
ion
al
Prot
ocol
6
on T
rade
in
Serv
ices
a. A
dopt
ion
of t
he A
ddit
iona
l Pro
toco
l 6 b
y ne
go-
tiat
ing
Part
ies
2017
-201
8Ad
diti
onal
Pro
toco
l 6 a
wai
ts a
dopt
ion
by t
he C
EFTA
Joi
nt C
omm
it-
tee
(the
tex
t is
agr
eed,
den
omin
atio
n is
sue
to b
e so
lved
)1
b. E
nsur
ing
tim
ely
entr
y in
to f
orce
of
Addi
tion
al
Prot
ocol
620
18-2
019
Rati
ficat
ion
of t
he A
P6 is
pen
ding
ado
ptio
n by
JC
1
c. D
evel
opm
ent
of t
he s
usta
inab
le m
echa
nism
for
m
onit
orin
g tr
ade
in s
ervi
ces
polic
ies,
inc
ludi
ng
scre
enin
g of
leg
isla
tion
and
map
ping
of
proj
ects
an
d es
tabl
ishm
ent
of t
he e
ffici
ent
disp
ute
sett
le-
men
t m
echa
nism
2017
-201
9CE
FTA
Stat
isti
cal P
orta
l set
up,
indi
cato
rs d
efine
d an
d ap
prov
ed2
d. E
stab
lishm
ent
of t
he c
onta
ct p
oint
for
ser
vice
s 20
18-2
019
Conc
ept
on c
onta
ct p
oint
s fo
r se
rvic
es u
nder
pre
para
tion
.2
e.
Esta
blis
hmen
t an
d m
aint
enan
ce
of t
he
re-
gion
al t
rans
pare
ncy
plat
form
on
serv
ices
pol
icie
s fe
atur
ing
chan
nels
of
com
mun
icat
ion
to p
riva
te
sect
or a
nd w
ider
cir
cle
of b
enefi
ciar
ies
2018
-202
3
Elem
ents
of
regi
onal
pla
tfor
m f
or s
ervi
ces
part
ially
defi
ned.
n/a
f. R
evie
w o
f co
mm
itm
ents
und
erta
ken
by t
he A
P6
in n
on-l
iber
alis
ed s
ecto
rs w
ith
a vi
ew t
o de
epen
th
e m
arke
t op
enin
g in
the
se s
ecto
rs20
22-2
023
Acti
on is
pen
ding
ful
l im
plem
enta
tion
of A
P6n/
a
g. E
valu
atio
n of
impa
ct o
f th
e Ag
reem
ent
on f
ur-
ther
tra
de a
nd i
nves
tmen
t gr
owth
, G
VC,
labo
ur
mar
ket
2020
-202
3Ac
tion
is p
endi
ng f
ull i
mpl
emen
tati
on o
f AP6
n/a
h. E
stab
lishm
ent
and
mai
nten
ance
of
the
plat
-fo
rm fo
r st
atis
tica
l dat
a on
tra
de in
ser
vice
s, F
ATS
and
FDI
2017
-202
3Re
port
ing
syst
em o
pera
tion
al,
diss
emin
atio
n pl
atfo
rm c
reat
ed
and
avai
labl
e to
use
rs4
50 51
Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.
I.
4.
2.
Co
ncl
usi
on
of
agre
e-m
ents
on
in-
terr
egi
onal
re
gula
tory
co
oper
atio
n
a. I
dent
ifica
tion
of
regu
lato
ry b
arri
ers
that
im
-pe
de t
rade
and
pro
posa
l fo
r cl
oser
coo
pera
tion
am
ongs
t re
gula
tory
bod
ies
in s
ecto
rs a
nd p
olic
ies
of m
utua
l int
eres
t
2017
-201
8M
appi
ng o
f re
gula
tory
bod
ies
in c
harg
e of
ser
vice
s co
mpl
eted
. Po
tent
ial
barr
iers
for
coo
pera
tion
am
ongs
t se
lect
ed r
egul
ator
s id
enti
fied.
b. E
stab
lishm
ent
and
mai
nten
ance
of
data
base
w
ith
regu
lato
ry h
eter
ogen
eity
indi
ces
to p
erfo
rm
asse
ssm
ent
of i
mpl
icat
ions
of
arra
ngem
ents
on
the
regi
on
2018
-202
3La
w fi
rms
for
com
pilin
g da
ta o
n le
gisl
atio
n an
d po
licy
mea
sure
s se
lect
ed.
c. Id
enti
ficat
ion
of s
uita
ble
form
s fo
r co
oper
atio
n ba
sed
on s
oft
law
s, r
ecog
niti
on o
f in
tern
atio
nal
and
EU s
tand
ards
, M
RAs
2017
-201
8Pr
elim
inar
y an
alys
is o
f po
tent
ial
form
s of
coo
pera
tion
am
ongs
t re
gula
tors
per
form
ed.
d. N
egot
iati
on a
nd a
dmin
iste
ring
the
con
clus
ion
of s
elec
ted
arra
ngem
ents
2018
-202
3Ac
tion
will
fol
low
dec
isio
n on
reg
ulat
ors
and
pref
erre
d fo
rms
of
coop
erat
ion
I.
4.
3.
De
ve
lop
-m
ent
of
dis
cip
lin
es
on d
omes
tic
regu
lati
on
a. R
egul
ar r
evie
w o
f an
y is
sues
of
dom
esti
c re
gu-
lati
on in
tra
de in
ser
vice
s20
18-2
019
2022
-202
3
Firs
t re
view
exp
ecte
d in
Nov
embe
r 20
19
Seco
nd r
evie
w e
xpec
ted
in 2
023
b. D
evel
opm
ent
of a
ny n
eces
sary
dis
cipl
ines
in
spec
ific
sect
ors
to e
nsur
e th
at q
ualifi
cati
on r
e-qu
irem
ents
and
pro
cedu
res,
tec
hnic
al s
tand
ards
an
d lic
ensi
ng r
equi
rem
ents
do
not
unne
cess
arily
im
pede
the
sup
ply
of s
ervi
ces
acro
ss t
he r
egio
n
2020
-202
3Ac
tion
will
fol
low
res
ults
of
the
first
rev
iew
to
be c
ompl
eted
in
2019
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.
I.
4.
4.
La
un
ch
ing
dial
ogue
on
re
gula
tory
is
sues
in
e
lec
tro
nic
co
mm
erce
a. I
dent
ify
barr
iers
to
e-Co
mm
erce
in
CEFT
A an
d as
sess
e-C
omm
erce
im
pact
and
lau
nch
regi
onal
di
alog
ue o
n re
gula
tory
iss
ues
in e
lect
roni
c co
m-
mer
ce
2018
-202
3
Stud
y on
bar
rier
s in
leg
isla
tive
fra
mew
ork
and
prac
tice
is
unde
r pr
epar
atio
n
b. A
sses
s ex
isti
ng g
eo-b
lock
ing
mea
sure
s (f
ocus
on
dig
ital
con
tent
and
cop
yrig
ht g
oods
) an
d ex
-am
ine
whe
ther
fit
for
purp
ose
wit
h th
e ai
m t
o pr
even
t un
just
ified
geo
-blo
ckin
g w
hile
ens
urin
g in
vest
men
t an
d in
nova
tion
ince
ntiv
es a
t th
e sa
me
tim
e
2019
-202
0
Stud
y on
geo
-blo
ckin
g m
easu
res
to b
e pr
epar
ed in
201
9
c. L
aunc
h re
gion
al a
ctio
ns a
imed
at
incr
easi
ng
citi
zen'
s tr
ust
in o
nlin
e se
rvic
es (
paym
ent,
etc
.)
and
coor
dina
tion
on
e-Co
mm
erce
tru
st m
arks
2018
-202
0Ac
tion
will
fol
low
the
res
ults
of
anal
ysis
on
barr
iers
in l
egis
lati
ve
fram
ewor
k an
d pr
acti
ce
d. Id
enti
fy a
nd a
pply
the
bes
t pr
acti
ce t
o di
gita
l m
arke
t pl
aces
to
grow
SM
E bu
sine
sses
and
dri
ve
cons
umer
wel
fare
2018
-202
3Ac
tion
will
fol
low
the
res
ults
of
anal
ysis
on
barr
iers
in l
egis
lati
ve
fram
ewor
k an
d pr
acti
ce
e. A
sses
s ne
cess
ity
of r
egio
nal
acti
on t
o en
sure
hi
gh q
ualit
y de
liver
y of
goo
ds (
e.g.
, di
gita
l co
n-te
nt t
rade
d cr
oss-
bord
er o
r ph
ysic
al g
oods
pur
-ch
ased
and
via
ele
ctro
nic
mea
ns)
and
serv
ices
at
reas
onab
le c
osts
2018
-202
3
Acti
on w
ill f
ollo
w t
he r
esul
ts o
f an
alys
is o
n ba
rrie
rs in
leg
isla
tive
fr
amew
ork
and
prac
tice
f. E
stab
lish
reco
gnit
ion
of c
erti
ficat
es o
f el
ec-
tron
ic s
igna
ture
and
fac
ilita
tion
of
cros
s-bo
rder
ce
rtifi
cati
on s
ervi
ces
2018
-202
3SC
on
Serv
ices
will
ser
ve a
s um
brel
la f
or t
he a
ctiv
itie
s re
late
d to
th
e El
ectr
onic
Com
mer
ce.
g. E
nsur
e lia
bilit
y of
int
erm
edia
ry s
ervi
ces
pro-
vide
rs w
ith
resp
ect
to t
he t
rans
mis
sion
, or
sto
r-ag
e of
info
rmat
ion
base
d on
EU
com
plia
nce
2019
-202
1Ac
tion
will
fol
low
the
res
ults
of
anal
ysis
on
barr
iers
in l
egis
lati
ve
fram
ewor
k an
d pr
acti
ce
h. A
ddre
ss t
reat
men
t of
uns
olic
ited
ele
ctro
nic
com
mer
cial
com
mun
icat
ions
2018
-202
3Ac
tion
will
fol
low
the
res
ults
of
anal
ysis
on
barr
iers
in l
egis
lati
ve
fram
ewor
k an
d pr
acti
ce
52 53
Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.II.
Inve
stm
ent
II.1.
Inve
stm
ent
polic
y Th
e re
gion
is o
n a
good
tra
ck in
impl
emen
tati
on o
f m
easu
res
rela
ted
to t
he in
vest
men
t po
licy,
and
in t
imel
y m
anne
r fo
r th
e fir
st h
alf
of 2
018,
as
stip
u-la
ted
by t
he M
AP.
Regi
onal
Inve
stm
ent
Refo
rm A
gend
a ha
s be
en d
raft
ed, r
evie
wed
and
end
orse
d bo
th a
t in
divi
dual
eco
nom
y an
d re
gion
al le
vels
(SEE
IC-C
EFTA
Joi
nt W
orki
ng
Gro
up o
n In
vest
men
ts,
SEEI
C pl
enar
y an
d m
inis
teri
al f
oras
). R
egio
nal C
apit
al M
arke
ts W
orki
ng G
roup
has
bee
n es
tabl
ishe
d an
d pr
epar
ed a
reg
iona
l act
iv-
ity
prog
ram
me
for
capi
tal m
arke
ts d
evel
opm
ent.
The
sm
art
grow
th e
ffor
ts h
ave
cons
olid
ated
the
wor
k of
the
reg
iona
l R&
D pl
atfo
rm a
nd S
EEIC
Wor
king
G
roup
on
Indu
stri
al P
olic
y, a
nd t
aken
the
wor
k in
intr
oduc
tion
of
smar
t sp
ecia
lisat
ion
to in
dust
rial
dev
elop
men
t ag
enda
s fu
rthe
r.
II
.1
.1
. D
evel
op a
nd
esta
blis
h a
regi
onal
in
-v
es
tme
nt
re
fo
rm
ag
enda
a. E
xecu
te d
etai
led
map
ping
of
fore
ign
inve
st-
men
ts i
n th
e W
B6 r
egio
n, w
here
by e
cono
mie
s pr
ovid
e ac
cess
to
FDI-
rele
vant
dat
a (s
ecto
rs,
re-
inve
stm
ents
, em
ploy
men
t, e
tc.)
2017
-201
8
Deta
iled
map
ping
of
FDI
has
been
exe
cute
d an
d co
nsol
idat
ed a
t th
e re
gion
al l
evel
in
the
fram
ewor
k of
im
plem
enta
tion
of
Wes
t-er
n Ba
lkan
s Re
gion
al I
nves
tmen
t Po
licy
and
Prom
otio
n Pr
ojec
t,
perf
orm
ed i
n co
oper
atio
n of
the
RCC
, CE
FTA
and
the
Wor
ld B
ank
Gro
up a
nd w
ith
finan
cial
sup
port
of
the
Euro
pean
Com
mis
sion
. Th
e W
B6 e
cono
mie
s ha
ve d
eliv
ered
the
inf
orm
atio
n/da
ta o
n FD
I flo
ws,
for
eign
tra
de,
in m
ost
case
s th
e in
vest
or d
ata
as w
ell
(in-
war
d, o
utw
ard
and
pote
ntia
l in
vest
ors)
col
lect
ed b
y re
leva
nt i
n-st
itut
ions
. Ba
sed
on t
his
data
, FD
I m
appi
ng r
epor
t an
d in
vest
or
data
base
has
bee
n cr
eate
d.
Base
d on
the
inve
stor
dat
abas
e cr
eate
d, in
vest
or s
urve
y ha
s be
en
perf
orm
ed.
A co
mpr
ehen
sive
in
vent
ory/
data
base
of
ke
y in
vest
men
t po
li-cy
bar
rier
s an
d in
hibi
tors
, as
wel
l as
bes
t pr
acti
ces
is fi
nalis
ed
thro
ugh
deta
iled
inte
rvie
ws
wit
h th
e in
vest
ors
base
in t
he r
egio
n.
Fina
lised
thr
ough
pre
para
tion
of
prop
osal
and
rev
iew
of
the
het-
erog
eneo
us p
olic
y m
ix o
f th
e Re
gion
al In
vest
men
t Re
form
Age
nda
(RIR
A) t
hrou
gh in
divi
dual
eco
nom
y co
nsul
tati
ons
and
regi
onal
dia
-lo
gue
of t
he S
EEIC
-CEF
TA J
oint
Wor
king
Gro
up o
n In
vest
men
ts.
RIRA
has
bee
n en
dors
ed t
hrou
gh t
he d
ecis
ion
mak
ing
proc
esse
s of
th
e hi
gher
ins
tanc
es,
nam
ely
SEEI
C pl
enar
y an
d m
inis
teri
al p
lat-
form
s an
d pu
t fo
rwar
d fo
r ad
opti
on b
y th
e W
B6 P
Ms.
3
b. I
dent
ify
and
com
pile
a c
ompr
ehen
sive
inv
en-
tory
/dat
abas
e of
key
inv
estm
ent
polic
y ba
rrie
rs
and
inhi
bito
rs,
as w
ell a
s be
st p
ract
ices
, th
roug
h in
-dep
th c
onsu
ltat
ions
wit
h th
e pr
ivat
e se
ctor
an
d re
view
of
exis
ting
ana
lysi
s, w
ith
econ
omie
s to
pro
vide
rel
evan
t da
ta o
n ex
isti
ng p
olic
ies,
la
ws,
and
reg
ulat
ions
per
tain
ing
to i
nves
tmen
t,
rele
vant
sys
tem
of
ince
ntiv
es a
s w
ell a
s le
gal a
nd
othe
r co
mpr
ehen
sive
pro
tect
ion
of t
he a
cqui
red
righ
ts o
f in
vest
ors
2018
c. F
orm
ulat
e a
regi
onal
inve
stm
ent
refo
rm a
gen-
da b
y pr
iori
tisi
ng a
nd s
eque
ncin
g is
sues
in in
vest
-m
ent-
pert
inen
t po
licie
s to
be
addr
esse
d th
roug
h a
regi
onal
dia
logu
e in
sho
rt-t
erm
, m
ediu
m-t
erm
an
d lo
ng-t
erm
tim
efra
me
2018
d. F
orm
ulat
e in
divi
dual
-eco
nom
y ac
tion
pla
ns r
e-fle
ctin
g th
e re
gion
al i
nves
tmen
t re
form
age
nda
and
stre
amlin
ing
the
indi
vidu
al-e
cono
my
refo
rm
effor
ts
2018
e. A
dopt
ind
ivid
ual
econ
omy
acti
on p
lans
, re
-fle
ctin
g th
e re
gion
al i
nves
tmen
t re
form
age
nda
and
stre
amlin
ing
the
indi
vidu
al-e
cono
my
refo
rm
effor
ts
2018
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.
II
.1
.2
. F
orm
ali
se
the
regi
onal
in
vest
me
nt
re
fo
rm
a
ge
nd
a th
roug
h ap
-p
rop
ria
te
inst
rum
ents
a. C
ondu
ct a
naly
sis
and
prop
ose
opti
ons
for
ap-
prop
riat
e in
stru
men
t(s)
acc
epta
ble
to W
B6 e
con-
omie
s ba
sed
on t
he c
onte
nt o
f th
e ag
reed
reg
ion-
al in
vest
men
t re
form
age
nda
2018
Futu
re a
ctiv
ity,
sch
edul
ed f
or a
fter
Jul
y 20
18 e
ndor
sem
ent
by t
he
PMs
and
beyo
nd.
This
is
reco
gnis
ed a
s a
cost
ly a
ctiv
ity
to b
e ex
-ec
uted
by
a te
am o
f hi
gh p
rofil
e le
gal
expe
rts
and
will
nee
d ad
-di
tion
al fi
nanc
ial s
uppo
rt.
1b.
Dec
ide
on t
he n
eces
sity
, fo
rmat
, an
d sc
ope
of
appr
opri
ate
inst
rum
ent(
s) f
or i
mpl
emen
tati
on o
f th
e re
gion
al in
vest
men
t re
form
age
nda
2018
c. In
itia
te a
nd c
oncl
ude
nego
tiat
ions
on
regi
onal
ap
prop
riat
e in
stru
men
t(s)
, de
pend
ing
on t
he d
e-ci
sion
rea
ched
und
er b
)20
18-2
020
II
.1
.3
. Im
ple
me
nt
and
mon
itor
in
vest
me
nt
refo
rms
in
WB6
as
per
esta
bli
shed
re
gion
al
in-
ve
stm
en
t r
ef
or
m
agen
da
a. S
tren
gthe
n th
e re
gion
al d
ialo
gue
on t
he a
gree
d in
vest
men
t re
form
age
nda
unde
r th
e RC
C (S
EE
Inve
stm
ent
Com
mit
tee)
by
revi
sing
the
Ter
ms
of
Refe
renc
e of
Wor
king
Gro
up o
n In
vest
men
t ac
-co
rdin
gly
2017
Regi
onal
Inv
estm
ent
Refo
rm A
gend
a (R
IRA)
fina
lised
, by
rev
ised
an
d ad
opte
d Te
rms
of R
efer
ence
of
the
SEEI
C-CE
FTA
Join
t W
orki
ng
Gro
up o
n In
vest
men
ts,
focu
sing
on
impl
emen
tati
on o
f M
AP R
EA
and
enta
iling
man
date
d pa
rtic
ipat
ion
of i
ndiv
idua
l ec
onom
y of
-fic
ials
in c
harg
e of
inve
stm
ent
polic
y, p
rom
otio
n, a
nd a
gree
men
ts
(whi
lst
incl
udin
g co
ordi
nati
on w
ith
othe
r re
leva
nt li
ne m
inis
trie
s),
as w
ell a
s CE
FTA
cont
act
poin
ts.
Som
e pr
ogre
ss s
een
in s
ome
of t
he e
cono
mie
s, s
till
this
act
ivit
y ne
eds
to b
e pr
oper
ly e
stab
lishe
d in
all
econ
omie
s. B
ette
r co
ordi
-na
tion
and
cha
in o
f de
cisi
on m
akin
g fr
om t
he in
divi
dual
eco
nom
y le
vel i
s ne
eded
, pa
rtic
ular
ly in
coo
rdin
atio
n be
twee
n th
e M
AP R
EA
NCs
wit
h lin
e m
inis
trie
s in
cha
rge
of d
iffer
ent
polic
y ar
eas
unde
r th
e in
vest
men
t co
mpo
nent
.
Som
e pr
ogre
ss s
een
in s
ome
of t
he e
cono
mie
s, s
till
this
act
ivit
y ne
eds
to b
e pr
oper
ly e
stab
lishe
d in
all
econ
omie
s.
2.5
b. M
anda
te r
epre
sent
atio
n of
the
rel
evan
t pu
b-lic
ins
titu
tion
s w
ith
appr
opri
ate
deci
sion
mak
ing
pow
er i
n im
plem
enta
tion
of
the
agre
ed r
egio
nal
inve
stm
ent
refo
rm a
gend
a
2017
c. E
stab
lish
indi
vidu
al-e
cono
my
focu
s gr
oups
in
char
ge o
f im
plem
enta
tion
of
agre
ed i
nves
tmen
t re
form
s on
indi
vidu
al-e
cono
my
leve
l20
18
d. R
evie
w t
he p
rogr
ess
of im
plem
enta
tion
of
the
regi
onal
inv
estm
ent
refo
rm a
gend
a an
d co
nduc
t im
pact
ass
essm
ent
thro
ugh
a re
gula
r re
gion
al d
i-al
ogue
und
er t
he R
CC-C
EFTA
Joi
nt W
orki
ng G
roup
on
Inve
stm
ent
Polic
y an
d Pr
omot
ion
mee
ting
s an
d re
port
s
2018
-202
0
e. R
epor
t on
the
im
plem
enta
tion
and
im
pact
of
the
regi
onal
inv
estm
ent
refo
rm a
gend
a th
roug
h th
e RC
C-CE
FTA
Join
t W
orki
ng G
roup
on
Inve
st-
men
t Po
licy
and
Prom
otio
n an
d SE
E In
vest
men
t Co
mm
itte
e M
inis
teri
al
Plat
form
an
d th
e W
B6
sum
mit
2018
-202
0
54 55
Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.
II
.1
.4
. P
ro
mo
te
WB6
re
gion
as
a u
niqu
e in
vest
me
nt
dest
inat
ion
a. D
evel
op j
oint
inv
estm
ent
prom
otio
n in
itia
tive
fo
r W
B6 p
rior
ity
sect
ors
and
esta
blis
h an
ope
ra-
tion
al p
latf
orm
of
inve
stm
ent
prom
otio
n to
ols
and
tech
niqu
es
2018
The
inve
stm
ent
prom
otio
n ag
enci
es a
re i
nclu
ded
in t
he r
egio
nal
plat
form
thr
ough
the
wor
k of
the
JW
GI,
init
ial p
ropo
sal m
ade
as a
pa
rt o
f RI
RA,
and
endo
rsed
, w
ith
deta
iled
acti
vity
pla
n to
fol
low
. Re
gion
al i
nves
tmen
t pr
omot
ion
agen
cies
nee
d m
ore
of t
echn
ical
(c
apac
ity
build
ing)
sup
port
for
im
plem
enta
tion
of
join
t re
gion
al
acti
viti
es,
give
n th
eir
unde
rsta
ffed
and
und
er b
udge
ted
situ
atio
n at
indi
vidu
al e
cono
my
leve
ls.
2.5
b. I
mpl
emen
t a
smal
l se
t of
foc
used
inv
estm
ent
outr
each
act
ivit
ies
in c
ore
sect
ors
targ
eted
by
the
SEE
2020
str
ateg
y20
18-2
020
c. D
edic
ate
part
of
the
indi
vidu
al a
ctiv
itie
s of
in
vest
men
t pr
omot
ion
agen
cies
to
prom
otin
g th
e re
gion
as
a so
und
inve
stm
ent
dest
inat
ion
2018
-202
0
II
.1
.5
. D
ive
rsif
i-ca
tion
of
fi
na
nc
ial
syst
ems
to
boos
t in
-ve
stm
ent
a. A
s a
first
ste
p in
thi
s ar
ea,
crea
te a
reg
iona
l Ca
pita
l M
arke
t De
velo
pmen
t Ta
sk F
orce
com
pris
-in
g po
licym
aker
s an
d re
gula
tors
to
sp
earh
ead
capi
tal
mar
ket
deve
lopm
ent
mat
ters
an
d en
-ha
nce
coor
dina
tion
on
regu
lato
ry a
nd s
uper
viso
ry
regi
mes
in t
he r
egio
n an
d be
yond
(inc
ludi
ng c
oor-
dina
tion
wit
h th
e Vi
enna
Init
iati
ve W
orki
ng G
roup
on
Cap
ital
Mar
kets
Uni
on)
2017
Fina
lised
, W
orki
ng G
roup
on
Capi
tal
Mar
kets
est
ablis
hed,
wit
h ad
opte
d To
R fo
cusi
ng o
n M
AP R
EA a
nd e
ntai
ling
repr
esen
tati
ves
of
mar
ket
auth
orit
ies
(Min
istr
ies
of F
inan
ce a
nd C
entr
al B
anks
), r
eg-
ulat
ors
(Sec
urit
ies
Com
mis
sion
s) a
nd o
pera
tors
(Sto
ck E
xcha
nges
).
Inte
rnat
iona
l par
tner
s be
yond
the
reg
ion
have
bee
n id
enti
fied
and
invi
ted
to s
uppo
rt t
he p
roce
ss (
Wor
ld B
ank,
Eur
opea
n Co
mm
is-
sion
, Vi
enna
2.0
Init
iati
ve,
EBRD
– S
EE L
ink,
and
oth
ers
as d
eem
ed
nece
ssar
y)
Coul
d be
mar
ked
as fi
nalis
ed,
give
n th
at t
he p
rovi
sion
s of
thi
s m
easu
re h
ave
been
ful
fille
d. H
owev
er,
this
mea
sure
is m
arke
d on
tr
ack,
sin
ce t
he n
eed
for
regi
onal
str
ateg
y fo
r ca
pita
l mar
kets
has
be
en a
sses
sed
by t
he n
ewly
est
ablis
hed
Wor
king
Gro
up o
n Ca
pita
l M
arke
ts,
and
mul
ti-a
nnua
l re
gion
al p
rogr
amm
e co
ncep
t pr
opos
al
is p
repa
red
for
the
July
201
8 Su
mm
it,
enta
iling
pre
para
tion
and
im
plem
enta
tion
of
the
regi
onal
str
ateg
y fo
r ca
pita
l m
arke
ts d
e-ve
lopm
ent,
est
ablis
hmen
t of
new
A2F
pla
tfor
ms,
inc
reas
ing
ca-
paci
ty o
f re
gion
al c
apit
al m
arke
t st
ruct
ures
, as
wel
l as
upgr
adin
g re
gion
al t
radi
ng p
latf
orm
s. T
he p
ropo
sal f
or a
regi
onal
pro
gram
me
need
s su
bsta
ntia
l fina
ncin
g.
3b.
Bas
ed o
n an
alys
is o
n ca
pita
l m
arke
ts d
evel
op-
men
t, a
imed
at
iden
tify
ing
gaps
and
opp
ortu
ni-
ties
fo
r br
oade
r ca
pita
l m
arke
ts
inte
grat
ion,
as
sess
the
nee
d fo
r de
velo
pmen
t of
a r
egio
nal
stra
tegy
for
cap
ital
mar
kets
dev
elop
men
t20
18-2
020
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.
II
.1
.6
. S
ma
rt
Gro
wth
a.
Esta
blis
h re
gion
al d
ialo
gue
and
know
ledg
e ex
chan
ge o
n de
velo
ping
Sm
art
grow
th s
trat
egie
s ba
sed
on E
U e
xper
ienc
e an
d su
ppor
t th
e de
velo
p-m
ent
of s
mar
t sp
ecia
lisat
ion
rese
arch
and
inn
o-va
tion
str
ateg
ies
in t
he W
B6 t
o en
sure
str
ateg
ic
stru
ctur
al i
nves
tmen
ts a
nd t
o bu
ild c
ompe
titi
ve
adva
ntag
e
i) w
ith
the
acti
ve p
arti
cipa
tion
of
the
busi
ness
an
d re
sear
ch a
nd i
nnov
atio
n co
mm
unit
ies,
en-
gage
wit
h EU
-wid
e sm
art
grow
th a
ppro
ache
s, n
o-ta
bly
the
smar
t sp
ecia
lisat
ion
plat
form
s, t
o de
-ve
lop
and
impl
emen
t sm
art
grow
th d
evel
opm
ent
stra
tegi
es
ii) w
ith
the
acti
ve p
arti
cipa
tion
of
the
busi
ness
an
d re
sear
ch a
nd i
nnov
atio
n co
mm
unit
ies,
en-
gage
wit
h EU
-wid
e w
ork
on d
igit
alis
atio
n, t
o de
-ve
lop
and
impl
emen
t di
gita
l gro
wth
str
ateg
ies
iii)
deve
lop
easi
er a
cces
s to
fina
nce
for
busi
ness
, es
peci
ally
SM
Es,
star
t-up
s an
d sc
ale-
ups
2018
All o
f th
e ec
onom
ies
have
eng
aged
in a
dyn
amic
way
wit
h de
velo
p-m
ent
of r
esea
rch
and
inno
vati
on p
olic
ies
whe
reby
all
econ
omie
s ha
ve r
ecen
tly
adop
ted
R&D
stra
tegi
es,
but
also
eng
aged
in
de-
velo
pmen
t of
inn
ovat
ion
polic
ies
and
inst
rum
ents
whi
ch e
ntai
l a
broa
der
unde
rsta
ndin
g of
inno
vati
on.
Deve
lopm
ent
of s
mar
t sp
ecia
lisat
ion
stra
tegi
es h
as b
een
plac
ed o
n th
e ag
enda
as
one
of t
he p
rior
itie
s fo
r 20
18 b
y al
l of
the
eco
no-
mie
s. W
hile
Ser
bia
and
Mon
tene
gro
have
alr
eady
pro
gres
sed
in t
he
deve
lopm
ent
of t
he s
mar
t sp
ecia
lisat
ion
stra
tegi
es,
the
othe
r fo
ur
econ
omie
s ha
ve i
niti
ated
the
pro
cess
of
the
deve
lopm
ent
of t
he
smar
t sp
ecia
lisat
ion
stra
tegi
es b
y ap
poin
ting
the
coo
rdin
atin
g in
-st
itut
ion
and
the
team
to
coor
dina
te t
he p
repa
rati
on o
f th
e sm
art
spec
ialis
atio
n in
ear
ly 2
018.
Alb
ania
has
fina
lised
the
firs
t ph
ase
of t
he S
3 ro
adm
ap h
avin
g se
nt t
he l
ette
r of
int
enti
on r
egar
ding
th
e co
llabo
rati
on o
n th
e de
velo
pmen
t of
the
sm
art
spec
ialis
atio
n st
rate
gy t
o DG
JRC
. Al
so t
he i
nsti
tuti
onal
cap
acit
y bu
ildin
g ph
ase
of t
he r
oadm
ap w
as c
oncl
uded
, fin
alis
ing
the
desk
res
earc
h of
the
ex
isti
ng p
olic
ies
and
stra
tegi
es r
elat
ed t
o S3
. Th
e de
cisi
on t
o ha
ve
a na
tion
al S
, as
wel
l as
to p
ilot
S3 a
t re
gion
al le
vel,
in R
egio
n 2
of
Alba
nia,
was
tak
en in
clo
se c
olla
bora
tion
and
con
sult
atio
n w
ith
the
Regi
onal
Dev
elop
men
t Ag
ency
2.
The
Alba
nian
S3
team
is
wor
king
cl
osel
y w
ith
JRC
follo
win
g st
eps
as f
ores
een
in t
he j
oint
ly a
gree
d ro
adm
ap.
Regi
onal
Coo
pera
tion
Cou
ncil
(RCC
) an
d th
e Di
rect
orat
e-G
ener
al
Join
t Re
sear
ch C
entr
e (D
G J
RC)
of t
he E
urop
ean
Com
mis
sion
co-
orga
nise
d a
join
t W
orks
hop
on t
he G
over
nanc
e of
Sm
art
Spec
ialis
a-ti
on a
nd T
rain
ing
on t
he E
ntre
pren
euri
al D
isco
very
Pro
cess
(ED
P)
in t
he W
este
rn B
alka
ns,
whi
ch w
as h
eld
at T
echn
olog
y Pa
rk in
Lju
-bl
jana
on
11-1
2 Ap
ril 2
018.
In
the
cour
se o
f th
e w
orks
hop
Alba
nia,
Bo
snia
and
Her
zego
vina
, Kos
ovo*
and
The
For
mer
Yug
osla
v Re
publ
ic
of M
aced
onia
hav
e co
mpl
eted
the
firs
t dr
afts
of
the
Road
map
s fo
r th
e De
velo
pmen
t of
the
Sm
art
Spec
ialis
atio
n St
rate
gies
, whi
le M
on-
tene
gro
and
Serb
ia h
ave
star
ted
to p
repa
re o
pera
tion
al p
lans
for
th
e im
plem
enta
tion
of
the
EDP
proc
ess.
Mon
tene
gro
star
ted
wit
h En
trep
rene
uria
l Dis
cove
ry P
roce
ss (
EDP)
on
11 M
ay 2
018
and
is n
ow
hold
ing
the
seco
nd ro
und
of c
onsu
ltat
ions
wit
h pr
ivat
e, p
ublic
, aca
-de
mic
and
civ
il se
ctor
s re
gard
ing
S3 p
rior
ity
sect
ors.
2
56 57
Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.Re
sear
ch c
omm
erci
alis
atio
n is
at
a ve
ry e
arly
sta
ge o
f de
velo
p-m
ent
in t
he W
este
rn B
alka
ns.
Ther
e ar
e ve
ry f
ew U
nive
rsit
y Te
ch-
nolo
gy T
rans
fer
Offi
ces
and
whe
re t
hey
do e
xist
the
y ar
e un
der-
fund
ed,
unde
rsta
ffed
and
hav
e lim
ited
cap
acit
y to
sup
port
the
te
chno
logy
tra
nsfe
r pr
oces
ses.
The
Eco
nom
ic R
efor
m P
rogr
amm
e of
The
For
mer
Rep
ublic
of M
aced
onia
pri
orit
ises
the
est
ablis
hmen
t of
Nat
iona
l Tec
hnol
ogy
Tran
sfer
Offi
ce (
NTT
O)
and
prep
arat
ory
ac-
tivi
ties
for
est
ablis
hmen
t ar
e co
mpl
eted
. In
Oct
ober
201
6, t
he
draf
t am
endm
ents
to
the
Law
on
Inno
vati
on A
ctiv
ity
for
prov
idin
g a
lega
l fra
mew
ork
for
NTT
O a
nd in
clus
ion
of t
he F
und
for
Inno
va-
tion
and
Tec
hnol
ogic
al D
evel
opm
ent
as o
ne o
f th
e fo
unde
rs o
f th
e N
TTO
wer
e ad
opte
d by
the
Par
liam
ent.
The
NTT
O i
s ex
pect
ed t
o st
art
func
tion
ing
in t
he fi
rst
half
of
2018
.
Som
e of
the
eco
nom
ies,
not
ably
Ser
bia,
Mon
tene
gro
and
The
For-
mer
Yug
osla
v Re
publ
ic o
f M
aced
onia
, ha
ve a
lso
inve
sted
int
o th
e de
velo
pmen
t of
Sci
ence
Par
ks a
nd I
ncub
ator
s, h
owev
er t
rue
Sci-
ence
and
Tec
hnol
ogy
Park
s ar
e ra
re i
n th
e W
este
rn B
alka
ns a
nd
shou
ld n
ot b
e co
nfus
ed w
ith
tech
nolo
gy p
arks
and
fre
e tr
ade
zone
s de
sign
ed t
o en
cour
age
esta
blis
hed
busi
ness
es.
Incu
bato
rs
are
mor
e co
mm
on b
ut t
here
are
few
exa
mpl
es o
f in
cuba
tors
fo-
cusi
ng o
n st
art-
ups
and
spin
off w
ith
tech
nolo
gy b
ased
and
sca
l-ab
le i
deas
. At
the
sam
e ti
me
the
econ
omie
s ar
e lo
okin
g in
to d
e-ve
lopi
ng C
entr
es o
f Ex
celle
nce
wit
h va
rieg
ated
pro
gres
s be
twee
n ec
onom
ies.
A m
ulti
-cou
ntry
IPA
proj
ect
aim
ed a
t su
ppor
ting
tec
hnol
ogy
tran
s-fe
r an
d in
nova
tion
in
the
Wes
tern
Bal
kans
– E
U4T
ech
– m
anag
ed
by D
G N
EAR
and
DG J
oint
Res
earc
her
Cent
re w
as la
unch
ed a
t th
e be
ginn
ing
of 2
016.
The
pro
ject
int
ends
to
impl
emen
t a
holis
tic
capa
city
bui
ldin
g st
rate
gy t
hat
will
look
at
the
perf
orm
ance
of
all
acto
rs o
pera
ting
in
the
tech
nolo
gy t
rans
fer
and
inno
vati
on r
ang-
ing
from
aca
dem
ic in
stit
utio
ns t
o ea
rly
stag
e in
vest
ors
to s
cien
ce
park
s to
spi
n-ou
t co
mpa
nies
to
polic
y m
aker
s. F
ifte
en o
rgan
isa-
tion
s in
the
eco
syst
em f
or T
T ca
paci
ty b
uild
ing
in t
he W
B6 h
ave
been
iden
tifie
d w
ithi
n th
e pr
ojec
t an
d ta
rget
ed c
apac
ity
build
ing
and
trai
ning
s ha
ve c
omm
ence
d in
201
8.
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.Fu
rthe
rmor
e, t
he E
urop
ean
Inve
stm
ent
Bank
(EI
B) is
con
duct
ing
a fe
asib
ility
stu
dy f
or a
reg
iona
l Cen
tre
of E
xcel
lenc
e w
hich
sho
uld
prop
ose
inst
itut
ion(
s)/h
ub(s
) w
ith
high
est
pote
ntia
l for
Cen
tre
of
Exce
llenc
e ba
sed
on r
esea
rch
agen
da,
capa
city
to
inte
grat
e re
-la
ted
field
s, e
nabl
e in
dust
rial
con
nect
ivit
y an
d en
sure
vis
ibili
ty
and
sust
aina
bilit
y. D
ue t
o de
lays
the
stu
dy h
as n
ot y
et b
een
mad
e av
aila
ble,
but
it is
exp
ecte
d to
be
publ
ishe
d in
201
8.
Inve
stm
ents
to
supp
ort
inno
vati
on,
as w
ell
as c
omm
erci
alis
atio
n of
pub
lic r
esea
rch
are
of c
ruci
al i
mpo
rtan
ce.
Serb
ia h
as s
et u
p a
func
tion
al in
nova
tion
fund
, as
wel
l as
The
Form
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
b-lic
of
Mac
edon
ia,
Alba
nia
as w
ell
offer
s th
e In
nova
tion
Fun
d fo
r SM
Es a
s a
publ
ic g
rant
ded
icat
ed t
o Al
bani
an S
MEs
tha
t ha
ve t
heir
fo
cus
on in
nova
tion
and
tec
hnol
ogy
as w
ell a
s au
dit
of in
nova
tion
an
d te
chno
logy
nee
ds,
part
icip
atio
n in
inno
vati
on a
nd t
echn
olog
y na
tion
al a
nd i
nter
nati
onal
fai
rs,
purc
hase
of
tech
nolo
gy/i
nnov
a-ti
ve e
quip
men
t/m
achi
neri
es,
etc.
whi
le o
ther
eco
nom
ies
have
st
arte
d in
trod
ucin
g di
ffer
ent
inno
vati
on v
ouch
er s
chem
es o
n a
smal
ler
scal
e. U
nder
the
Wes
tern
Bal
kans
Ent
erpr
ise
Deve
lopm
ent
and
Inno
vati
on F
acili
ty (
WB
EDIF
), t
he W
orld
Ban
k is
im
plem
ent-
ing
tech
nica
l as
sist
ance
to
supp
ort
deve
lopm
ent
of a
n en
ablin
g ve
ntur
e ca
pita
l ec
osys
tem
and
ass
ist
wit
h in
vest
men
t re
adin
ess
of S
MEs
. U
nder
thi
s pr
ogra
mm
e, t
he W
orld
Ban
k is
con
duct
ing
an
asse
ssm
ent
of t
he v
entu
re c
apit
al e
nvir
onm
ent
in t
he W
este
rn
Balk
ans
and
is h
elpi
ng p
ut in
pla
ce t
he r
ight
legi
slat
ive
fram
ewor
k fo
r in
vest
men
t fu
nds.
So
far,
the
asse
ssm
ent
has
been
com
plet
ed
in A
lban
ia a
nd T
he F
orm
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
blic
of
Mac
edon
ia.
In-
vest
men
t re
adin
ess
pilo
ts a
re a
lso
bein
g im
plem
ente
d th
roug
hout
th
e re
gion
.
The
EU4T
ech
proj
ect,
men
tion
ed a
bove
, has
rev
iew
ed t
he e
xist
ing
avai
labl
e TT
fina
ncia
l in
stru
men
ts in
reg
ion.
Bas
ed o
n th
e id
enti
-fie
d ga
ps J
RC’s
the
mat
ic e
xper
tise
and
EIB
’s fi
nanc
ial
know
-how
w
ill b
e us
ed i
n a
syne
rget
ic w
ay t
o la
unch
a s
mal
l-sc
ale
Wes
tern
Ba
lkan
s 6
pilo
t in
itia
tive
fun
ded
thro
ugh
the
mul
ti-c
ount
ry I
PA,
whi
ch w
ill r
epre
sent
the
nex
t, a
nd fi
rst
prac
tica
l, s
tage
in
the
effor
ts t
o co
ver
the
so c
alle
d “v
alle
y of
dea
th”
betw
een
rese
arch
an
d in
dust
ry.
58 59
Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.III
. M
obili
tyIII
. 1.
Mob
ility
of
Rese
arch
ers
All
of t
he W
B6 e
cono
mie
s ha
ve s
tepp
ed u
p eff
orts
to
prio
riti
se a
nd r
emov
e ob
stac
les
to m
obili
ty o
f re
sear
cher
s re
sult
ing
in o
vera
ll go
od p
rogr
ess
on
rem
ovin
g ob
stac
les
to m
obili
ty o
f re
sear
cher
s. A
ll of
the
WB6
hav
e pr
iori
tise
d m
obili
ty o
f re
sear
cher
s in
the
ir r
espe
ctiv
e s
trat
egic
fra
mew
orks
. In
re-
spon
se t
o th
e id
enti
fied
obst
acle
s to
mob
ility
of
rese
arch
ers,
whi
ch in
clud
e fin
anci
al b
arri
ers,
maj
orit
y of
the
eco
nom
ies
have
cre
ated
gra
nt s
chem
es t
o su
ppor
t m
obili
ty o
f re
sear
cher
s at
the
leve
l of
indi
vidu
al e
cono
mie
s.
Wit
h re
gard
s to
act
ions
aim
ed a
t su
ppor
ting
res
earc
h in
fras
truc
ture
and
the
dev
elop
men
t of
cen
tres
of e
xcel
lenc
e in
the
reg
ion
prog
ress
has
bee
n sl
ower
an
d va
riat
ion
betw
een
econ
omie
s m
ore
prom
inen
t. A
ll th
e W
B6 e
cono
mie
s ap
art
from
Kos
ovo*
hav
e re
pres
enta
tive
s in
the
Eur
opea
n St
rate
gy F
orum
on
Rese
arch
Infr
astr
uctu
res
(ESF
RI).
Mon
tene
gro
com
plet
ed m
appi
ng o
f re
sear
ch in
fras
truc
ture
and
fina
lised
the
Res
earc
h In
fras
truc
ture
Roa
dmap
in li
ne
wit
h ES
FRI,
whi
le S
erbi
a is
in t
he fi
nal s
tage
of
com
plet
ing
the
map
ping
exe
rcis
e an
d th
e Re
sear
ch In
fras
truc
ture
Roa
dmap
.
II
I.
1.
1.
Rem
oval
of
ob
stac
les
to
mob
ility
of
re
sear
cher
s
a. I
dent
ify
lega
l ba
rrie
rs f
or o
pen
mer
it-b
ased
, co
mpe
titi
ve,
inte
rnat
iona
l re
crui
tmen
t sy
stem
an
d re
mov
e th
e id
enti
fied
lega
l bar
rier
s20
20Th
e W
B6 e
cono
mie
s ha
ve a
ssoc
iate
d st
atus
in H
2020
wit
h ex
cep-
tion
of
Koso
vo*
whi
ch h
as a
n in
tern
atio
nal
coop
erat
ion
part
ner
stat
us.
On
the
othe
r ha
nd,
in t
he E
urop
ean
Coop
erat
ion
in S
ci-
ence
and
Tec
hnol
ogy
(CO
ST)
prog
ram
me
only
Ser
bia,
Mon
tene
-gr
o, B
osni
a an
d H
erce
govi
na a
nd T
he F
orm
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
blic
of
Mac
edon
ia h
ave
mem
bers
hip
stat
us.
The
aver
age
succ
ess
rate
for
al
l W
B ec
onom
ies
in H
oriz
on20
20 is
10.
9% c
ompa
red
to 1
4.6%
for
H
oriz
on 2
020
over
all.
Wit
h re
gard
s to
mob
ility
of
rese
arch
ers,
the
Mar
ie S
kłod
owsk
a-Cu
rie
acti
ons
(MSC
A) s
uppo
rt r
esea
rche
rs a
t al
l st
ages
of
thei
r ca
reer
s ac
ross
all
disc
iplin
es a
nd a
re o
pene
d to
all
WB6
eco
no-
mie
s.
How
ever
, re
sear
cher
s fr
om t
he W
B6 r
egio
n ha
ve d
ifficu
lty
acce
ssin
g th
e M
SCA,
as
they
fac
e di
fficu
ltie
s in
com
peti
ng a
gain
st
the
mor
e ad
vanc
ed r
esea
rch
syst
ems
of t
he E
U.
Ther
efor
e, H
o-ri
zon
2020
has
ope
ned
up a
spe
cial
sec
tion
to
supp
ort
part
icip
a-ti
on o
f re
sear
cher
s fr
om t
he W
B6 r
egio
n (a
nd e
lsew
here
) th
roug
h W
iden
ing
mea
sure
s, in
clud
ing
Twin
ning
, ER
A Ch
airs
and
Wid
enin
g Fe
llow
ship
s.
In a
ddit
ion
to M
SCA,
the
WB6
par
tici
pate
in t
he C
entr
al E
urop
ean
Exch
ange
Pro
gram
me
for
Uni
vers
ity
Stud
ies
(CEE
PUS)
exc
hang
e pr
ogra
mm
e w
hich
can
be
used
by
prof
esso
rs t
o un
dert
ake
mob
il-it
y re
late
d to
tea
chin
g in
Cen
tral
Eas
tern
Eur
ope
regi
on a
nd h
ave
a re
sear
ch c
ompo
nent
if r
elat
ed t
o te
achi
ng.
3
b. I
dent
ify
inst
itut
iona
l ba
rrie
rs t
o m
obili
ty o
f re
sear
cher
s,
incl
udin
g w
orki
ng
cond
itio
ns,
re-
crui
tmen
t sy
stem
s an
d pr
omot
ion
crit
eria
, an
d re
mov
e id
enti
fied
barr
iers
2020
c. D
evel
op m
echa
nism
s an
d m
easu
res
to s
uppo
rt
incr
ease
d m
obili
ty o
f re
sear
cher
s fr
om W
B6 t
o EU
w
ithi
n th
e ex
isti
ng m
obili
ty s
chem
es (f
or in
stan
ce
Wes
tern
Bal
kan
Win
dow
wit
hin
the
MSC
Act
ions
)
2019
d. D
evel
op a
nd i
mpl
emen
t a
pilo
t sc
hem
e to
su
ppor
t i
ncom
ing
mob
ility
of
pos
t-do
ctor
al r
e-se
arch
ers
to t
he W
este
rn B
alka
ns w
ith
an a
im t
o bu
ild r
esea
rch
exce
llenc
e ne
twor
ks in
the
reg
ion
2019
e. M
ap t
he e
xist
ing
rese
arch
infr
astr
uctu
re in
the
re
gion
to
ensu
re t
rans
pare
nt a
nd a
vaila
ble
info
r-m
atio
n to
res
earc
hers
int
eres
ted
to c
oope
rate
w
ith
and
in t
he W
este
rn B
alka
ns a
nd t
o id
enti
fy
gaps
2019
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.f.
Dev
elop
a n
ew r
egio
nal
Cent
re o
f Ex
celle
nce
to p
rom
ote
colla
bora
tion
bet
wee
n sc
ienc
e, t
ech-
nolo
gy a
nd i
ndus
try
and
to
prov
ide
a pl
atfo
rm
for
educ
atio
n of
you
ng s
cien
tist
s an
d en
gine
ers,
ba
sed
on t
he m
appi
ng a
nd t
he id
enti
fied
gaps
2020
Furt
herm
ore,
eac
h go
vern
men
t ha
s si
gned
sev
eral
bila
tera
l agr
ee-
men
ts w
ith
econ
omie
s of
the
reg
ion
and
outs
ide
the
regi
on t
o pr
o-m
ote
rese
arch
coo
pera
tion
. H
owev
er,
the
impl
emen
tati
on o
f th
e bi
late
ral a
gree
men
ts is
oft
en h
inde
red
due
to t
he la
ck o
f fu
ndin
g fr
om t
he d
omes
tic
budg
ets.
All t
he W
B6 e
cono
mie
s ap
art
from
Kos
ovo*
hav
e re
pres
enta
tive
s in
th
e Eu
rope
an S
trat
egy
Foru
m o
n Re
sear
ch In
fras
truc
ture
s (E
SFRI
).
Mon
tene
gro
com
plet
ed m
appi
ng o
f re
sear
ch in
fras
truc
ture
and
fi-
nalis
ed t
he R
esea
rch
Infr
astr
uctu
re R
oadm
ap i
n lin
e w
ith
ESFR
I.
Serb
ia h
as i
niti
ated
a s
yste
mat
ic m
appi
ng o
f re
sear
ch i
nfra
stru
c-tu
re,
whi
le o
ther
eco
nom
ies
are
at a
ver
y ea
rly
stag
e.
In t
he W
B6 e
cono
mie
s, o
nly
Serb
ia h
as E
RIC
Coor
dina
tor.32
Ser
bia
is a
lso
in t
he p
roce
ss o
f ap
poin
ting
a R
epre
sent
ing
Enti
ty t
o jo
in
the
Cent
ral E
urop
ean
Rese
arch
Infr
astr
uctu
re C
onso
rtiu
m (
CERI
C-ER
IC).
Thi
s is
an
inte
grat
ed m
ulti
disc
iplin
ary
rese
arch
infr
astr
uc-
ture
, se
t up
as
an E
RIC
by A
ustr
ia,
Czec
h Re
publ
ic,
Ital
y, R
oman
ia,
Serb
ia a
nd S
love
nia.
CER
IC-E
RIC
is o
pen
to e
xter
nal b
asic
and
ap-
plie
d us
ers.
Seve
ral
dom
esti
c ce
ntre
s of
res
earc
h ex
celle
nce
have
bee
n cr
e-at
ed,
mos
t pr
omin
ent
bein
g th
e Bi
osen
se i
nsti
tute
in
Serb
ia a
nd
the
Bio-
ICT
Cent
re o
f Exc
elle
nce
in M
onte
negr
o. T
here
is a
s ye
t no
re
gion
al c
entr
e of
exc
elle
nce.
How
ever
, th
ere
is a
n in
itia
tive
led
by
Min
istr
y of
Sci
ence
of
Mon
tene
gro
to e
stab
lish
Sout
h Ea
st E
u-ro
pean
Inte
rnat
iona
l Ins
titu
te f
or S
usta
inab
le T
echn
olog
ies
aim
ing
to p
rom
ote
colla
bora
tion
bet
wee
n sc
ienc
e, t
echn
olog
y an
d in
dus-
try,
but
als
o to
pro
vide
pla
tfor
ms
for
the
educ
atio
n an
d tr
aini
ng
of y
oung
sci
enti
sts
and
engi
neer
s ba
sed
on k
now
ledg
e an
d te
ch-
nolo
gy t
rans
fer
from
Eur
opea
n la
bora
tori
es li
ke C
ERN
and
oth
ers.
Th
e in
itia
tive
has
rec
eive
d Le
tter
s of
Sup
port
fro
m t
he M
inis
ters
re
spon
sibl
e fo
r Sc
ienc
e fr
om a
ll W
B6 e
cono
mie
s, a
s w
ell a
s Cr
oa-
tia
and
Slov
enia
.
g. S
tren
gthe
ning
the
cap
acit
y of
EU
RAXE
SS o
ffice
s in
the
reg
ion
and
the
impl
emen
tati
on o
f Ch
arte
r an
d Co
de p
rinc
iple
s an
d Se
al o
f Ex
celle
nce
Cont
inuo
us
32 A
Eur
opea
n Re
sear
ch In
fras
truc
ture
Con
sort
ium
(ER
IC)
is a
lega
l sta
tus
gran
ted
by t
he E
urop
ean
Com
mis
sion
60 61
Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.Al
l of
the
WB6
eco
nom
ies,
wit
h an
exc
epti
on o
f Ko
sovo
*, h
ave
es-
tabl
ishe
d th
e EU
RAXE
SS S
ervi
ce C
entr
es a
nd a
ssoc
iate
d EU
RAXE
SS
Jobs
Por
tals
, ye
t lit
tle
info
rmat
ion
on r
esea
rche
r jo
b va
canc
ies
in t
he r
egio
n is
ava
ilabl
e th
roug
h th
e EU
RAXE
SS p
orta
l. R
CC w
ill
supp
ort
the
netw
orki
ng o
f th
e EU
RAXE
SS c
onta
ct p
oint
s an
d th
e as
soci
ated
ser
vice
s to
bui
ld c
apac
ity
to s
uppo
rt r
esea
rche
rs f
rom
th
e W
B6 i
n ap
plyi
ng a
nd c
ompe
ting
suc
cess
fully
for
the
exi
stin
g EU
mob
ility
pro
gram
mes
.III
.2.
Mob
ility
of
Prof
essi
onal
sDe
spit
e in
itia
l del
ays,
the
pre
para
tory
wor
k ne
eded
to
open
neg
otia
tion
s on
Mut
ual R
ecog
niti
on A
gree
men
t of
Pro
fess
iona
l Qua
lifica
tion
s fo
r Do
ctor
s of
M
edic
ine,
Den
tist
s, A
rchi
tect
s an
d Ci
vil E
ngin
eers
has
bee
n co
mpl
eted
.
The
Wor
king
Gro
up o
n Re
cogn
itio
n of
Pro
fess
iona
l Q
ualifi
cati
ons
has
agre
ed o
n th
e 7t
h of
May
201
8 to
rec
omm
end
the
open
ing
of t
he n
egot
iati
ons
on
the
Mut
ual R
ecog
niti
on A
gree
men
t of
Pro
fess
iona
l Qua
lifica
tion
s fo
r Do
ctor
s of
Med
icin
e, D
enti
sts,
Arc
hite
cts
and
Civi
l Eng
inee
rs in
a m
ulti
late
ral f
ram
e-w
ork.
Bas
ed o
n th
e re
com
men
dati
on o
f th
e jo
int
Wor
king
Gro
up o
n Re
cogn
itio
n of
Pro
fess
iona
l Qua
lifica
tion
s th
e go
vern
men
ts o
f th
e W
B6 a
re e
xpec
ted
to p
rovi
de t
he m
anda
tes
and
to a
ppoi
nt t
he L
ead
Neg
otia
tor,
Depu
ty L
ead
Neg
otia
tor
and
the
nego
tiat
ion
team
s by
the
30t
h of
Jun
e 20
18.
In a
ddit
ion,
W
orki
ng G
roup
on
Reco
gnit
ion
of P
rofe
ssio
nal Q
ualifi
cati
ons
also
agr
eed
to r
ecom
men
d to
the
gov
ernm
ents
to
appo
int
a co
ordi
nato
r fo
r th
e Da
taba
se o
n Pr
ofes
sion
al Q
ualifi
cati
ons
in W
B6 w
ith
a m
anda
te t
o co
ordi
nate
the
dat
a co
llect
ion
and
subm
it t
he d
ata
to t
he D
atab
ase
on P
rofe
ssio
nal Q
ualifi
cati
ons
by t
he 3
0th
of J
une
2018
.
II
I.
2.
1.
Rem
oval
of
ob
stac
les
to
reco
gnit
ion
of
prof
es-
sion
al q
uali-
ficat
ions
a. O
pen
nego
tiat
ion
on m
utua
l rec
ogni
tion
agr
ee-
men
ts o
f pro
fess
iona
l qua
lifica
tion
s fo
r Do
ctor
s of
M
edic
ine,
Den
tist
s, A
rchi
tect
s an
d Ci
vil E
ngin
eers
in
a m
ulti
late
ral f
ram
ewor
k
2017
The
Wor
king
Gro
up o
n Re
cogn
itio
n of
Pro
fess
iona
l Q
ualifi
cati
ons
has
agre
ed o
n th
e 7t
h of
May
201
8 to
rec
omm
end
the
open
ing
of
the
nego
tiat
ions
on
the
Mut
ual
Reco
gnit
ion
Agre
emen
t of
Pro
fes-
sion
al Q
ualifi
cati
ons
for
Doct
ors
of M
edic
ine,
Den
tist
s, A
rchi
tect
s an
d Ci
vil E
ngin
eers
in a
mul
tila
tera
l fra
mew
ork.
Bas
ed o
n th
e re
c-om
men
dati
on o
f th
e Jo
int
Wor
king
Gro
up o
n Re
cogn
itio
n of
Pro
-fe
ssio
nal Q
ualifi
cati
ons
the
gove
rnm
ents
of
the
WB6
are
exp
ecte
d to
pro
vide
the
man
date
s an
d to
app
oint
the
Lea
d N
egot
iato
r, De
puty
Lea
d N
egot
iato
r an
d th
e ne
goti
atio
n te
ams
by t
he 3
0th
of
June
201
8. T
o fa
cilit
ate
the
inte
rnal
gov
ernm
enta
l pro
cedu
res
the
RCC
has
prov
ided
the
dra
ft l
egal
tex
t of
the
Mut
ual
Reco
gnit
ion
Agre
emen
t of
Pro
fess
iona
l Qua
lifica
tion
s fo
r Do
ctor
s of
Med
icin
e,
Dent
ists
, Arc
hite
cts
and
Civi
l Eng
inee
rs.
3
b. C
oncl
ude
nego
tiat
ions
on
mut
ual
reco
gnit
ion
agre
emen
ts o
f pro
fess
iona
l qua
lifica
tion
s fo
r Do
c-to
rs o
f M
edic
ine,
Den
tist
s, A
rchi
tect
s an
d Ci
vil
Engi
neer
s in
a m
ulti
late
ral f
ram
ewor
k
2019
c. E
stab
lish
the
Data
base
on
Prof
essi
onal
Qua
lifi-
cati
ons
and
Mob
ility
of P
rofe
ssio
nals
in 2
018
to b
e fu
lly o
pera
tion
by
Dece
mbe
r 20
1920
18
d. D
atab
ase
on P
rofe
ssio
nal
Qua
lifica
tion
s an
d M
obili
ty o
f Pr
ofes
sion
als
fully
ope
rati
onal
2019
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.e.
Bui
ld c
apac
ity
to f
acili
tate
the
dat
a an
d in
-fo
rmat
ion
colle
ctio
n fo
r th
e Da
taba
se o
n Pr
ofes
-si
onal
Qua
lifica
tion
s an
d M
obili
ty o
f Pr
ofes
sion
als
Cont
inuo
usO
nce
the
gove
rnm
ents
hav
e co
mpl
eted
the
inte
rnal
gov
ernm
enta
l pr
oced
ures
the
y ar
e to
inf
orm
the
RCC
Sec
reta
ry G
ener
al.
Onc
e al
l W
B6 h
ave
com
plet
ed t
he p
roce
dure
s an
d ha
ve i
nfor
med
the
RC
C Se
cret
ary
Gen
eral
the
firs
t m
eeti
ng o
f th
e ne
goti
atin
g te
ams
will
be
calle
d by
the
RCC
whe
re t
he R
ules
of
Proc
edur
es f
or t
he
nego
tiat
ions
will
be
disc
usse
d. I
f al
l th
e go
vern
men
ts h
ave
com
-pl
eted
the
ir p
roce
dure
s an
d in
form
ed t
he R
CC S
ecre
tary
Gen
eral
th
ereo
f by
the
30t
h of
Jun
e 20
18 a
s ag
reed
, th
e fir
st m
eeti
ng o
f th
e ne
goti
atin
g te
ams
coul
d ta
ke p
lace
in J
uly
2018
.
In a
ddit
ion,
Wor
king
Gro
up o
n Re
cogn
itio
n of
Pro
fess
iona
l Qua
lifi-
cati
ons
also
agr
eed
to r
ecom
men
d to
the
gov
ernm
ents
to
appo
int
a co
ordi
nato
r fo
r th
e Da
taba
se o
n Pr
ofes
sion
al Q
ualifi
cati
ons
in
WB6
wit
h a
man
date
to
coor
dina
te t
he d
ata
colle
ctio
n an
d su
bmit
th
e da
ta t
o th
e Da
taba
se o
n Pr
ofes
sion
al Q
ualifi
cati
ons
by t
he
30th
of J
une
2018
. To
faci
litat
e th
e es
tabl
ishm
ent
of t
he D
atab
ase
on P
rofe
ssio
nal
Qua
lifica
tion
s in
WB6
the
RCC
has
con
trac
ted
a se
rvic
e pr
ovid
er t
o cr
eate
the
Dat
abas
e on
Pro
fess
iona
l Qua
lifica
-ti
ons.
The
init
ial d
ata
for
the
Hea
lth
and
Cons
truc
tion
sec
tors
has
al
read
y be
en c
olle
cted
by
the
RCC.
The
refo
re,
once
the
gov
ern-
men
ts h
ave
appo
inte
d th
e co
ordi
nato
rs f
or t
he D
atab
ase
on P
ro-
fess
iona
l Q
ualifi
cati
ons
the
veri
ficat
ion
of t
he d
ata,
upo
n w
hich
th
e la
unch
ing
of D
atab
ase
depe
nds,
will
be
poss
ible
.
f.
Exp
lore
pos
sibi
litie
s to
ope
n ne
goti
atio
ns a
nd
conc
lude
mut
ual r
ecog
niti
on a
gree
men
ts in
oth
er
sect
ors
and
prof
essi
ons
of m
utua
l int
eres
t20
18-2
020
III.3
. M
obili
ty o
f St
uden
ts a
nd H
ighl
y Sk
illed
The
acti
ons
aim
ed a
t re
mov
ing
obst
acle
s to
rec
ogni
tion
of
acad
emic
qua
lifica
tion
s ar
e ah
ead
of t
he p
lann
ed s
ched
ule
outl
ined
in M
AP R
EA.
The
Wor
k-in
g G
roup
on
Reco
gnit
ion
of A
cade
mic
Qua
lifica
tion
s ha
s ag
reed
to
laun
ch t
he j
oint
exe
rcis
e on
rec
ogni
tion
of
acad
emic
qua
lifica
tion
s, h
as d
raft
ed t
he
init
ial p
ropo
sal o
n th
e jo
int
onlin
e sy
stem
to
shar
e in
form
atio
n, in
clud
ing
on h
ighe
r ed
ucat
ion
inst
itut
ions
, qu
alifi
cati
ons
and
deci
sion
s ta
ken,
ava
ilabl
e to
EN
IC/N
ARIC
cen
tres
and
Min
istr
ies
resp
onsi
ble
for
high
er e
duca
tion
in
the
regi
on,
and
has
disc
usse
d pr
opos
als
on p
roce
dure
for
fas
t tr
ack
reco
gni-
tion
of
high
er e
duca
tion
qua
lifica
tion
s. F
urth
erm
ore,
reg
ular
mee
ting
s of
a n
etw
ork
of E
NIC
/NAR
IC c
entr
es a
nd t
he Q
ualit
y As
sura
nce
Agen
cies
hav
e be
en in
itia
ted.
Fur
ther
mor
e, t
he r
egio
nal a
ctio
ns w
ere
supp
orte
d by
sig
nific
ant
nati
onal
eff
orts
to
sim
plif
y th
e pr
oced
ures
for
rec
ogni
tion
of
acad
emic
qu
alifi
cati
ons.
62 63
Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.
II
I.
3.
1.
Rem
oval
of
ob
stac
les
to
reco
gnit
ion
of a
cade
mic
q
ua
lifi
ca
-ti
ons
a. D
raft
a p
ropo
sal
on p
roce
dure
for
fas
t tr
ack
reco
gnit
ion
of
high
er
educ
atio
n qu
alifi
cati
ons
spec
ifyi
ng c
rite
ria
for
fast
tra
ck r
ecog
niti
on i
n th
e re
gion
, on
the
bas
is o
f N
atio
nal
Qua
lifica
-ti
on F
ram
ewor
ks (
NQ
Fs)
bein
g de
velo
ped
in a
c-co
rdan
ce w
ith
the
Bolo
gna
Proc
ess
and
othe
r EU
no
rms,
as
a ba
sis
for
esta
blis
hed
lear
ning
out
-co
mes
and
thu
s re
cogn
itio
n
2018
The
Wor
king
Gro
up o
n Re
cogn
itio
n of
Aca
dem
ic Q
ualifi
cati
ons
has
been
for
mal
ised
in D
ecem
ber
2017
. Th
e W
orki
ng G
roup
on
Reco
g-ni
tion
of A
cade
mic
Qua
lifica
tion
s op
erat
iona
lised
and
set
for
war
d an
am
biti
ous
tim
elin
e to
ach
ieve
the
obj
ecti
ves
set
out
by t
he
MAP
REA
ahe
ad o
f th
e in
itia
l sch
edul
e.
Sinc
e De
cem
ber
the
Wor
king
Gro
up o
n Re
cogn
itio
n of
Aca
dem
ic
Qua
lifica
tion
s ha
s ag
reed
to
laun
ch t
he j
oint
exe
rcis
e on
rec
ogni
-ti
on o
f ac
adem
ic q
ualifi
cati
ons
wit
h an
obj
ecti
ve t
o id
enti
fy s
imi-
lari
ties
/diff
eren
ces
in r
ecog
niti
on o
f fo
reig
n de
gree
s; t
o an
alys
e an
d di
scus
s th
e di
ffer
ence
s an
d to
sug
gest
fur
ther
joi
nt a
ctio
n to
de
crea
se t
he d
iffer
ence
s ba
sed
on w
hich
Joi
nt G
uide
s on
Rec
ogni
-ti
on o
f Aca
dem
ic Q
ualifi
cati
ons
will
be
prep
ared
. Diff
eren
t m
odel
s fo
r the
rec
ogni
tion
of a
cade
mic
qua
lifica
tion
s ha
ve b
een
disc
usse
d by
the
Wor
king
Gro
up o
n Re
cogn
itio
n of
Aca
dem
ic Q
ualifi
cati
ons.
An
ini
tial
set
of
prin
cipl
es f
or r
ecog
niti
on o
f ac
adem
ic q
ualifi
ca-
tion
s ha
s be
en d
iscu
ssed
and
is t
o be
fina
lised
at
the
next
mee
ting
of
the
Wor
king
Gro
up o
n Re
cogn
itio
n of
Aca
dem
ic Q
ualifi
cati
ons.
In a
ddit
ion,
to
faci
litat
e in
form
atio
n ex
chan
ge a
nd in
crea
se t
rans
-pa
renc
y an
d co
oper
atio
n in
rec
ogni
tion
of
acad
emic
qua
lifica
-ti
ons,
a r
egio
nal d
ialo
gue
and
regu
lar
mee
ting
s of
the
EN
IC/N
ARIC
ce
ntre
s an
d th
e Q
ualit
y As
sura
nce
Agen
cies
in t
he W
B6 h
ave
been
es
tabl
ishe
d.
Furt
herm
ore,
the
Wor
king
Gro
up o
n Re
cogn
itio
n of
Aca
dem
ic
Qua
lifica
tion
s ha
s ag
reed
on
an in
itia
l con
cept
of
the
join
t on
line
syst
em t
o sh
are
info
rmat
ion,
inc
ludi
ng o
n hi
gher
edu
cati
on i
n-st
itut
ions
, qu
alifi
cati
ons
and
deci
sion
s ta
ken,
ava
ilabl
e to
EN
IC/
NAR
IC c
entr
es a
nd M
inis
trie
s re
spon
sibl
e fo
r hi
gher
edu
cati
on i
n th
e W
B6 w
hich
put
s th
e pr
oces
s si
gnifi
cant
ly a
head
of
the
pro-
pose
d sc
hedu
le.
The
first
mee
ting
of
the
ENIC
/NAR
I offi
ces
and
the
QA
bodi
es i
n th
e re
gion
was
hel
d in
Mar
ch 2
018.
4
IV.
Digi
tal i
nteg
rati
on
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.IV
. 1.
Dig
ital
env
iron
men
t ne
twor
ks a
nd s
ervi
ces,
con
nect
ivit
y an
d ac
cess
Dig
ital
infr
astr
uctu
re d
evel
opm
ent
and
regi
onal
con
nect
ivit
y: W
B6 a
re a
t a
mod
erat
e le
vel o
f pr
epar
atio
n in
reg
ard
to t
rans
posi
tion
of
the
EU B
road
-ba
nd C
ost
Redu
ctio
n Di
rect
ive
wit
h Al
bani
a an
d Th
e Fo
rmer
Yug
osla
v Re
publ
ic o
f M
aced
onia
hav
ing
tran
spos
ed it
whi
le t
he o
ther
thr
ee e
cono
mie
s ar
e at
pr
epar
atio
n st
age.
The
pre
para
tion
of
the
broa
dban
d in
fras
truc
ture
map
ping
is o
ngoi
ng in
all
econ
omie
s an
d th
ere
is g
ood
pros
pect
for
the
bro
adba
nd
map
ping
to
have
mat
ure
adva
ncem
ent
duri
ng 2
018
in a
ll ec
onom
ies
alth
ough
the
act
ion
is t
o be
com
plet
ed b
y 20
20,
exce
pt i
n Th
e Fo
rmer
Yug
osla
v Re
publ
ic o
f M
aced
onia
, w
here
bro
adba
nd m
appi
ng i
s fin
ishe
d. R
egio
nal
exch
ange
on
busi
ness
inc
enti
ve m
odel
s/us
e of
PPP
s an
d re
gion
al d
ialo
gue
on
com
mer
cial
isat
ion
of s
pare
fibr
e op
tic
asse
ts is
yet
to
be d
etai
led
and
deve
lope
d. 4
out
of
6 re
gula
tors
fro
m W
B6 h
ave
an o
bser
ver
stat
us t
o BE
REC
and
thei
r di
alog
ue w
ithi
n th
e co
ntex
t of
BER
EC is
impr
ovin
g. T
here
is h
owev
er n
eed
to d
efine
pro
per
mec
hani
sms
for
Bosn
ia a
nd H
erze
govi
na a
nd K
osov
o* t
o be
par
t of
thi
s di
alog
ue,
alth
ough
no
spec
ific
acti
ons
have
bee
n un
dert
aken
dur
ing
the
repo
rtin
g. A
ddit
iona
lly,
Bosn
ia a
nd H
erze
govi
na a
nd K
osov
o* a
re
not
inte
grat
ed in
GÉA
NT
whi
le o
ther
fou
r ec
onom
ies
part
icip
ate,
not
ver
y ac
tive
ly t
houg
h. F
or t
he la
ter,
ther
e is
a p
ropo
sal o
n cr
oss-
bord
er c
onne
ctiv
ity
of W
B N
REN
s pr
iori
tise
d in
the
SEE
2020
Pro
gram
min
g Do
cum
ent
2018
-202
0 th
at c
an b
e fu
rthe
r de
velo
ped
wit
h th
e su
ppor
t of
don
ors.
Har
mon
ise
spec
trum
pol
icy
to e
nsur
e ti
mel
y an
d effi
cien
t av
aila
bilit
y an
d bo
ost
depl
oym
ent
of s
tand
ardi
sed
5G n
etw
orks
: WB6
are
at
an e
arly
leve
l of
pre
para
tion
in s
pect
rum
pol
icy
harm
onis
atio
n. T
here
is u
neve
n de
velo
pmen
t in
fre
eing
up
freq
uenc
ies.
Alb
ania
, Bo
snia
and
Her
zego
vina
and
Kos
ovo*
ha
ve n
ot c
ompl
eted
the
DSO
pro
cess
; Al
bani
a -
DD1
free
, 80
0 M
Hz;
Mon
tene
gro
-700
MH
z fr
ee,
Koso
vo*
the
tend
erin
g to
allo
w u
sing
of
unus
ed m
obile
sp
ectr
um in
pro
gres
s. In
itia
l reg
iona
l dia
logu
e on
spe
ctru
m p
olic
y ha
rmon
isat
ion
took
pla
ce a
t W
B6 r
egio
nal m
eeti
ng,
5th
Apri
l - a
ded
icat
ed m
eeti
ng t
o be
org
anis
ed a
t th
e la
test
by
June
201
8. A
ddit
iona
lly,
broa
der
coor
dina
tion
on
radi
o sp
ectr
um is
sues
tak
es p
lace
wit
hin
RSPG
reg
iona
l gro
up,
SEDD
IF a
s w
ell a
s w
ithi
n W
RC-1
9 pr
epar
ator
y pr
oces
s. A
mul
tila
tera
l fra
mew
ork
agre
emen
t be
twee
n al
l SED
DIF
mem
bers
(w
ith
the
exce
ptio
n of
Alb
ania
) is
alr
eady
si
gned
in D
ecem
ber
2017
. Ye
t, n
o re
gion
al d
iscu
ssio
n ha
s st
arte
d on
hav
ing
a re
gion
al p
osit
ion
and
stan
ding
on
spec
trum
pol
icy.
Coor
dina
te r
oam
ing
polic
ies
tow
ards
a r
oam
ing
free
eco
nom
ic a
rea:
Reg
iona
l Roa
min
g Ag
reem
ent
amon
gst
4 ec
onom
ies
is s
ucce
ssfu
lly im
plem
ente
d.
WB6
are
com
mit
ted
to e
xpan
d th
e ge
ogra
phic
sco
pe o
f th
e cu
rren
t ag
reem
ent
and
to c
onti
nue
wor
king
on
a su
cces
sor
agre
emen
t –
cons
ider
atio
n of
RL
AH w
ithi
n W
B6 t
o be
tab
led.
Exp
erie
nce
of E
U in
par
ticu
lar
for
RLAH
mod
el w
ill b
e fu
rthe
r ex
plor
ed a
nd u
sed.
Alb
ania
and
Kos
ovo*
hav
e ex
pres
sed
thei
r w
illin
gnes
s to
join
RRA
and
fur
ther
ste
ps a
re t
o be
tak
en. A
Roa
dmap
to
faci
litat
e lo
wer
ing
the
cost
s of
roa
min
g as
par
t of
the
Enl
arge
men
t St
rate
gy
WB6
Dig
ital
Age
nda
to b
e de
velo
ped
by E
C an
d pr
esen
ted
duri
ng t
he S
ofia
Sum
mit
. Im
pact
ass
essm
ent
of a
bolis
hmen
t of
roa
min
g ch
arge
s w
ith
EU is
in
prog
ress
and
pre
limin
ary
resu
lts
are
expe
cted
by
the
Sofia
Sum
mit
.
64 65
Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.
IV
.1
.1
Boos
t di
gita
l in
fras
tru
c-tu
re
deve
l-op
men
t an
d r
eg
ion
al
con
ne
ctiv
-it
y,
whi
le
crea
ting
a
leve
l pl
ay-
ing
field
for
di
gita
l ne
t-w
orks
an
d se
rvic
es
to
flou
rish
a. A
dvan
ce r
ight
/int
rodu
ce p
olic
y an
d re
gula
tory
m
easu
res
that
wou
ld i
ncen
tivi
se i
nves
tmen
ts i
n hi
gh s
peed
bro
adba
nd n
etw
orks
, in
clud
ing
tran
s-po
siti
on o
f EU
dir
ecti
ve 2
014/
61/E
U
Cont
inuo
us
a. W
B6 a
re a
t a m
oder
ate
leve
l of p
repa
rati
on in
rega
rd to
tran
spo-
siti
on o
f th
e EU
Bro
adba
nd C
ost
Redu
ctio
n Di
rect
ive;
Alb
ania
and
Th
e Fo
rmer
Yug
osla
v Re
publ
ic o
f M
aced
onia
alr
eady
tra
nspo
sed
it w
hile
the
oth
er t
hree
eco
nom
ies
are
at p
repa
rati
on s
tage
. In
Ko
sovo
*, t
he fi
rst
draf
t of
the
law
is p
repa
red
and
a TA
IEX
mis
sion
is
exp
ecte
d to
sup
port
wit
h th
e sc
reen
ing.
b. T
he p
repa
rati
on o
f th
e br
oadb
and
infr
astr
uctu
re m
appi
ng i
s on
goin
g in
all
econ
omie
s. N
amel
y, A
lban
ia h
as a
n br
oadb
and
atla
s th
at i
s re
gula
rly
upda
ted
– W
BIF
appl
icat
ion
for
the
feas
ibili
ty
stud
y on
reg
iona
l bro
adba
nd d
evel
opm
ent
is a
lso
pend
ing
appr
ov-
al;
Koso
vo*
is in
the
pro
cess
– e
xten
ded
broa
dban
d in
fras
truc
ture
4
pilo
t pr
ojec
ts la
unch
ed a
nd c
ontr
acts
sig
ned
and
the
uplo
adin
g of
info
rmat
ion
on e
lect
roni
c co
mm
unic
atio
n in
fras
truc
ture
to
the
dom
esti
c da
taba
se i
n pr
ogre
ss;
Mon
tene
gro
- th
e pr
oces
s is
on-
goin
g an
d ex
pect
ed t
o ad
vanc
e du
ring
201
8; S
erbi
a, t
he L
aw o
n El
ectr
onic
Com
mun
icat
ion
is i
n ap
prov
al p
roce
ss –
ena
blin
g th
e fix
ed b
road
band
map
ping
, w
hile
the
mob
ile b
road
band
map
ping
is
com
plet
ed;
in T
he F
orm
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
blic
of
Mac
edon
ia O
pera
-ti
onal
Bro
adba
nd P
lan
is e
xpec
ted
to b
e co
mpl
eted
dur
ing
2018
. Th
e m
appi
ng o
f cu
rren
t N
GA
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd i
dent
ifyi
ng t
he
area
s fo
r in
terv
enti
on (
whi
te z
ones
) is
fina
lised
; in
Bos
nia
and
Her
zego
vina
the
map
ping
re-
star
ed a
nd t
he d
ata
colle
ctio
n fr
om
the
enti
ties
is o
ngoi
ng.
c. C
erta
in b
usin
ess
and
PPP
mod
els
are
deve
lope
d in
som
e ec
ono-
mie
s an
d in
tere
st f
rom
IFIs
has
incr
ease
d. T
his
need
s to
be
mor
e pr
oact
ivel
y sh
ared
at
a re
gion
al l
evel
as
econ
omie
s sh
are
man
y si
mila
riti
es. I
n Se
rbia
, the
EBR
D pr
ojec
t la
unch
ed in
201
6 w
ill s
up-
port
iden
tific
atio
n of
cos
t ne
eded
for
fur
ther
bro
adba
nd d
evel
op-
men
t –
incl
udin
g po
tent
ial
busi
ness
mod
els;
The
For
mer
Yug
osla
v Re
publ
ic o
f M
aced
onia
inte
nds
to e
stab
lish
BCO
to
impr
ove
broa
d-ba
nd c
onne
ctiv
ity
in r
ural
are
as.
2.1
b. C
ompl
ete
outs
tand
ing
broa
dban
d in
fras
truc
-tu
re m
appi
ng a
nd p
erfo
rm a
naly
sis
of b
road
band
m
arke
ts a
nd id
enti
fy n
etw
ork
cove
rage
gap
s an
d in
vest
men
ts,
as w
ell a
s po
licy
mea
sure
s re
quir
ed
to b
ridg
e th
ose
gaps
2020
c. E
stab
lish
regu
lar
exch
ange
on
busi
ness
inc
en-
tive
mod
els
for
rura
l an
d un
ders
erve
d ar
eas
and
on t
he u
se o
f PP
Ps t
o ad
dres
s lo
w c
onne
ctiv
ity
2018
-on-
war
ds
d. E
stab
lish
regi
onal
dia
logu
e o
n co
mm
erci
alis
a-ti
on o
f sp
are
fibre
opt
ic a
sset
s; i
dent
ify
and
ad-
dres
s le
gal a
nd r
egul
ator
y co
nstr
aint
s an
d im
ple-
men
t th
e ag
reed
com
mer
cial
isat
ion
mod
el
2017
-202
0
e. S
tren
gthe
n re
gula
tory
dia
logu
e am
ongs
t al
l W
B6 r
egul
ator
s, a
s pa
rt o
f BE
REC
Cont
inuo
us
f. C
ompl
ete
regi
onal
int
erco
nnec
tion
and
int
e-gr
atio
n in
to t
he p
an-E
urop
ean
GÉA
NT
2023
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.d.
The
eco
nom
y-le
vel
intr
a-se
ctor
al d
ialo
gue
has
been
est
ab-
lishe
d, e
spec
ially
in v
iew
of
the
ongo
ing
Wor
ld B
ank’
s St
udy
(Sup
-po
rt t
o fo
ster
inf
rast
ruct
ure
shar
ing
in t
he W
este
rn B
alka
ns).
M
appi
ng o
f po
tent
ial s
pare
opt
ic fi
bres
in a
lmos
t al
l eco
nom
ies
is
unde
rtak
en a
nd a
war
enes
s on
the
nee
d to
opt
imis
e th
eir
use
has
incr
ease
d. T
here
is
a ne
ed t
houg
h to
est
ablis
h a
prop
er r
egio
nal
dial
ogue
upo
n co
mpl
etio
n of
the
Wor
ld B
ank
Stud
y, w
hich
sho
uld
prov
ide
info
rmat
ion
and
iden
tify
com
mer
cial
mod
els
for
addr
ess-
ing
spar
e fib
re c
apac
itie
s.
e. 4
out
of
6 re
gula
tors
fro
m W
B6 h
ave
an o
bser
ver
stat
us t
o BE
-RE
C an
d th
eir
dial
ogue
wit
hin
the
cont
ext
of B
EREC
is im
prov
ing.
Th
ere
is n
eed
thou
gh t
o de
fine
prop
er m
echa
nism
s fo
r Bo
snia
and
H
erze
govi
na a
nd K
osov
o* t
o be
par
t of
thi
s di
alog
ue.
f. B
osni
a an
d H
erze
govi
na a
nd K
osov
o* a
re n
ot i
nteg
rate
d in
GÉ-
ANT
whi
le in
The
For
mer
Yug
osla
v Re
publ
ic o
f M
aced
onia
onl
y on
e un
iver
sity
is
inte
grat
ed i
n th
e ne
twor
k. B
y th
e en
d of
201
8, t
wo
mor
e st
ate
univ
ersi
ties
will
be
conn
ecte
d th
roug
h M
ARN
ET t
o G
É-AN
T. A
ltho
ugh
regi
onal
int
erco
nnec
tion
and
int
egra
tion
is
to b
e co
mpl
eted
by
2023
adv
ance
men
t ca
n be
rea
ched
thr
ough
reg
iona
l ac
tion
s. T
here
is
a pr
opos
al o
n cr
oss-
bord
er c
onne
ctiv
ity
of W
B N
REN
s pr
iori
tise
d in
the
SEE
2020
Pro
gram
min
g Do
cum
ent
2018
-20
20 t
hat
can
be f
urth
er d
evel
oped
wit
h th
e su
ppor
t of
don
ors.
66 67
Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.
IV
.1
.2
Ha
rmo
niz
e s
pe
ct
rum
po
licy
to e
n-su
re
tim
ely
and
effici
ent
av
ail
ab
il-
ity
and
boos
t de
ploy
men
t of
sta
ndar
d-is
ed 5
G n
et-
wor
ks
a.
Esta
blis
h pr
edic
tabl
e,
cons
iste
nt,
and
har-
mon
ised
spe
ctru
m p
olic
y on
reg
iona
l le
vel
and
stre
ngth
en
regi
onal
co
oper
atio
n on
sp
ectr
um
polic
y ha
rmon
isat
ion
for
5G,
as w
ell a
s fo
r di
sas-
ter
and
emer
genc
y se
rvic
es
Cont
inuo
us
a. W
B6 a
re a
t an
ear
ly le
vel o
f pre
para
tion
in s
pect
rum
pol
icy
har-
mon
isat
ion.
Reg
ulat
ory
and
inst
itut
iona
l fra
mew
orks
tha
t pr
ovid
e fo
r effi
cien
t ov
eral
l spe
ctru
m m
anag
emen
t ar
e in
pla
ce a
cros
s th
e re
gion
. Th
ere
is u
neve
n de
velo
pmen
t in
fre
eing
up
freq
uenc
ies.
Al
bani
a, B
osni
a an
d H
erze
govi
na a
nd K
osov
o* h
ave
not
com
plet
ed
the
DSO
pro
cess
; In
Alb
ania
, it
is e
xpec
ted
that
70%
of
the
popu
-la
tion
will
be
cove
red
wit
h di
gita
l se
rvic
e by
Jul
y 20
18,
DD1
free
fo
r 80
0 M
Hz;
Mon
tene
gro
-700
MH
z fr
ee;
Koso
vo*
the
tend
erin
g to
al
low
usi
ng o
f un
used
mob
ile s
pect
rum
is in
pro
gres
s.
Broa
der
coor
dina
tion
on
radi
o sp
ectr
um is
sues
tak
es p
lace
wit
hin
RSPG
reg
iona
l gro
up, S
EDDI
F as
wel
l as
wit
hin
WRC
-19
prep
arat
ory
proc
ess.
A m
ulti
late
ral
fram
ewor
k ag
reem
ent
betw
een
all
SED-
DIF
mem
bers
(w
ith
the
exce
ptio
n of
Alb
ania
) is
alr
eady
sig
ned
in
Dece
mbe
r 20
17.
Init
ial
regi
onal
dia
logu
e on
spe
ctru
m p
olic
y ha
rmon
isat
ion
took
pl
ace
at W
este
rn B
alka
ns R
oam
ing
Polic
y M
eeti
ng,
held
on
Apri
l 5t
h 20
18 in
Bru
ssel
s. A
ded
icat
ed m
eeti
ng in
thi
s re
gard
to
be o
r-ga
nise
d by
the
end
of
May
- be
ginn
ing
of J
une
2018
.
Goo
d ad
vanc
emen
t in
5G
is
also
not
ed i
n M
onte
negr
o an
d Th
e Fo
rmer
Yug
osla
v Re
publ
ic o
f M
aced
onia
.
b. O
n W
RC,
econ
omie
s pa
rtic
ipat
e in
depe
nden
tly
in W
RC’s
wor
k.
Koso
vo*
is in
tere
sted
to
part
icip
ate
in it
s w
ork
and
othe
r re
gion
al
grou
ps r
elat
ed t
o sp
ectr
um p
olic
y m
anag
emen
t.
Yet,
no
regi
onal
dis
cuss
ion
has
star
ted
on h
avin
g a
regi
onal
pos
i-ti
on a
nd s
tand
ing
on W
RC,
CEPT
/ECO
2.5
b. C
oord
inat
e re
gion
al p
osit
ions
for
the
Wor
ld R
a-di
o Co
nfer
ence
(W
RC),
CEP
T/EC
OCo
ntin
uous
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.
IV.
1.3
Co
or
di
-na
te
roam
-in
g po
licie
s to
war
ds
a r
oa
mi
ng
free
ec
o-no
mic
are
a
a.
Cont
inue
re
gion
al
coor
dina
tion
on
ro
amin
g po
licie
s to
war
ds a
roa
min
g fr
ee e
cono
mic
are
a an
d pr
epar
e m
id-t
erm
Act
ion
Plan
for
alig
ning
ro
amin
g po
licie
s w
ith
EU R
LAH
mod
el
2018
a. R
egio
nal
Roam
ing
Agre
emen
t am
ongs
t 4
econ
omie
s (i
.e.
Bos-
nia
and
Her
zego
vina
, M
onte
negr
o, T
he F
orm
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
blic
of
Mac
edon
ia a
nd S
erbi
a) i
s su
cces
sful
ly i
mpl
emen
ted.
The
WB6
Ro
amin
g Po
licy
mee
ting
hel
d in
Bru
ssel
s on
5th
Apr
il 20
18 c
ase
show
ed t
he t
rend
s in
the
4 p
arti
cipa
ting
eco
nom
ies,
hig
hlig
htin
g th
e ne
ed t
o fo
cus
mor
e on
dat
a ra
ther
tha
n vo
ice;
WB6
con
firm
ed
the
will
ingn
ess
of t
he W
B6 t
o ex
tend
the
sco
pe o
f th
e ag
reem
ent
and
wor
k on
a n
ew s
ucce
ssor
agr
eem
ent,
pot
enti
ally
wit
h pr
ovi-
sion
s of
RLA
H w
ithi
n W
B6.
Expe
rien
ce o
f EU
in p
arti
cula
r fo
r RL
AH
mod
el w
ill b
e fu
rthe
r ex
plor
ed a
nd u
sed.
Alba
nia
and
Koso
vo*
have
exp
ress
ed t
heir
will
ingn
ess
to j
oin
RRA
and
offici
al l
ette
rs t
o in
form
oth
er 4
eco
nom
ies
are
subm
itte
d.
Tech
nica
l and
pro
cedu
ral t
alks
will
fol
low
in t
his
rega
rd.
b. A
mul
ti-s
take
hold
er a
ppro
ach
wit
h re
gard
to
roam
ing
polic
y is
es
tabl
ishe
d th
roug
hout
WB6
. Al
bani
a ha
s or
gani
sed
a ro
und
tabl
e w
ith
oper
ator
s on
25
Janu
ary
2018
whi
le r
egul
ar r
egio
nal
mee
t-in
gs a
mon
gst
ICT
min
istr
ies
and
regu
lato
rs f
rom
WB6
are
org
an-
ised
. Re
gion
al d
ialo
gue
to d
eepe
n co
oper
atio
n in
roa
min
g po
licy
was
hel
d du
ring
the
WB6
mee
ting
on
roam
ing
polic
y ha
rmon
isa-
tion
(i.
e. B
russ
els,
5th
Apr
il 20
18).
WB6
eco
nom
ies
disc
uss
coor
dina
tion
of
roam
ing
polic
y in
reg
u-la
r re
gion
al m
eeti
ngs
faci
litat
ed t
hrou
gh R
CC a
nd t
here
is a
n ex
-pr
esse
d w
illin
gnes
s an
d ne
ed t
o co
ntin
ue t
his
dial
ogue
in
the
fu-
ture
, al
so w
ith
the
help
and
fac
ilita
tion
of
RCC
and
EU..
c. R
CC h
as c
omm
issi
oned
the
con
sult
ancy
to
asse
ss t
he im
pact
of
the
roam
ing
char
ges.
The
ToR
has
bee
n pr
epar
ed a
nd t
he c
ontr
act
wit
h th
e co
nsul
tant
sig
ned.
The
pre
limin
ary
resu
lts
to b
e re
ady
prio
r to
Sofi
a Su
mm
it.
The
Road
map
to
faci
litat
e lo
wer
ing
the
cost
s of
roa
min
g as
par
t of
the
Enl
arge
men
t St
rate
gy,
whi
ch i
s pa
rt o
f th
e W
B6 D
igit
al A
gend
a to
be
deve
lope
d by
EC.
3
b. F
ollo
w a
mul
ti-s
take
hold
er a
ppro
ach
to g
uar-
ante
e tr
ansp
aren
cy a
nd p
redi
ctab
ility
so
that
all
rele
vant
vie
ws
and
expe
rtis
e on
roa
min
g po
licie
s ar
e su
ffici
entl
y ac
coun
ted
for
Cont
inuo
us
c. A
sses
s im
pact
of a
bolis
hmen
t of
roa
min
g ch
arg-
es in
the
EU
on
WB6
in a
reg
iona
l pos
itio
n pa
per
2018
68 69
Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.IV
.2.T
rust
and
sec
urit
y in
dig
ital
ser
vice
sEn
hanc
e Cy
bers
ecur
ity,
tru
st s
ervi
ces
and
data
pro
tect
ion:
NIS
Dir
ecti
ve i
s tr
ansp
osed
in
Alba
nia
and
Serb
ia w
hils
t th
e ot
her
econ
omie
s ar
e in
the
pr
oces
s of
pre
para
tion
and
/or
in p
ublic
con
sult
atio
n. In
Kos
ovo*
pre
para
tion
of
the
conc
ept
note
I pr
ogre
ss e
xpec
ted
to b
e ap
prov
ed b
y th
e G
over
nmen
t in
aut
umn;
legi
slat
ion
on d
ata
prot
ecti
on a
nd p
irac
y is
gen
eral
ly in
pla
ce a
cros
s W
B6. A
lban
ia,
Koso
vo*,
Mon
tene
gro
and
Serb
ia h
ave
adop
ted
dedi
cate
d cy
bers
ecur
ity
stra
tegi
es w
hile
The
For
mer
Yug
osla
v Re
publ
ic o
f M
aced
onia
is a
t fin
al s
tage
of
appr
oval
. Ye
t, n
ot e
ven
a un
ifor
m p
rogr
ess
in im
plem
enta
-ti
on o
f th
e st
rate
gies
is a
chie
ved.
Mix
ed p
rogr
ess
in r
egar
d to
the
cri
tica
l IT
inf
rast
ruct
ure
iden
tific
atio
n an
d no
exp
licit
inp
ut o
n th
e le
vel
of p
rote
ctio
n. O
n th
e cu
rren
t st
ate
of i
m-
plem
enta
tion
, Ko
sovo
* al
read
y ad
opte
d th
e la
w o
n cr
itic
al IT
infr
astr
uctu
re,
Alba
nia
com
plet
ed t
he id
enti
ficat
ion
and
appr
oval
is p
endi
ng,
Serb
ia h
as
iden
tifie
d an
d ad
opte
d th
e lis
t of
ICT
syst
ems
to b
e pr
otec
ted,
The
For
mer
Yug
osla
v Re
publ
ic o
f M
aced
onia
cri
tica
l inf
rast
ruct
ure
oper
ator
rec
ogni
sed
but
no in
tern
al a
gree
men
t on
the
defi
niti
on o
f cr
itic
al IT
infr
astr
uctu
res,
Mon
tene
gro
will
ado
pt t
he D
ecre
e on
mea
sure
s fo
r th
e pr
otec
tion
of
crit
ical
in
form
atio
n in
fras
truc
ture
in
acco
rdan
ce w
ith
the
Amen
dmen
ts t
o th
e La
w o
n in
form
atio
n se
curi
ty in
the
thi
rd q
uart
er o
f th
is y
ear.
All W
B6 h
ave
esta
blis
hed
CSIR
Ts –
tho
ugh
unde
rdev
elop
ed a
nd n
eces
sita
ting
long
er-t
erm
cap
acit
y-bu
ildin
g pr
ogra
mm
es.
RCC
netw
orke
d th
e CS
IRTs
fro
m
the
Wes
tern
Bal
kans
and
ext
ende
d ca
paci
ty b
uild
ing
to t
heir
rep
rese
ntat
ives
. A r
egio
nal C
onfe
renc
e of
CSI
RTs
prop
osed
by
The
Form
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
blic
of
Mac
edon
ia is
to
be o
rgan
ised
in O
ctob
er 2
018
duri
ng t
he E
urop
ean
Cybe
rsec
urit
y m
onth
. To
faci
litat
e th
e pa
rtic
ipat
ion
to E
NIS
A w
ork,
com
plia
nt w
ith
the
WB6
Dig
ital
Sum
mit
con
clus
ions
, RC
C ha
s re
cent
ly s
ent
a le
tter
to
ENIS
A Ex
ecut
ive
Dire
ctor
see
king
a p
osit
ive
stan
ding
fro
m E
NIS
A to
par
take
in it
s w
ork/
acti
viti
es.
IV.2
.1.
En-
hanc
e Cy
-be
rsec
urit
y,
trus
t se
rvic
-es
and
dat
a pr
otec
tion
a. E
stab
lish
and
harm
onis
e cy
bers
ecur
ity,
dat
a pr
otec
tion
, an
d pr
ivac
y re
gula
tion
s on
the
bas
is
of a
lev
el p
layi
ng fi
eld
as k
ey f
or e
stab
lishi
ng a
fu
ncti
onin
g an
d effi
cien
t DS
M a
ppro
ach
Cont
inuo
usa.
The
WB6
eco
nom
ies
have
ado
pted
rel
evan
t po
licie
s an
d le
g-is
lati
on f
or p
riva
cy,
data
pro
tect
ion
and
digi
tal
secu
rity
. Th
e N
IS
Dire
ctiv
e is
tra
nspo
sed
in A
lban
ia,
Serb
ia w
hils
t th
e ot
her
econ
o-m
ies
are
in p
roce
ss o
f pr
epar
atio
n an
d/or
in p
ublic
con
sult
atio
n.
Koso
vo*
appr
oved
the
legi
slat
ion
on d
ata
prot
ecti
on a
nd p
irac
y is
ge
nera
lly in
pla
ce a
cros
s W
B6.
Alba
nia,
Kos
ovo*
, M
onte
negr
o an
d Se
rbia
hav
e ad
opte
d de
dica
ted
cybe
rsec
urit
y st
rate
gies
whi
le T
he
Form
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
blic
of
Mac
edon
ia i
s at
fina
l st
age
of a
p-pr
oval
- y
et,
unif
orm
pro
gres
s in
impl
emen
tati
on o
f th
e st
rate
gies
ha
s no
t be
en a
chie
ved.
2.5
b. Id
enti
fy a
nd e
nsur
e pr
otec
tion
of
crit
ical
IT in
-fr
astr
uctu
res
Cont
inuo
us
c. S
et u
p re
gion
al d
ialo
gue
and
info
rmat
ion
ex-
chan
ge p
latf
orm
am
ongs
t W
B6 C
SIRT
s (C
ompu
t-er
Sec
urit
y In
cide
nt R
espo
nse
Team
s),
adva
nce
CSIR
Ts’
capa
citi
es
and
stre
ngth
en
inst
itut
iona
l lin
ks w
ith
EU C
SIRT
s
Cont
inuo
us
d. E
stab
lish
regi
onal
dia
logu
e an
d in
form
atio
n ex
-ch
ange
pla
tfor
m a
mon
gst
auth
orit
ies
in c
harg
e of
N
etw
ork
and
Info
rmat
ion
Secu
rity
(N
IS)
Cont
inuo
us
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.b.
Mix
ed p
rogr
ess
amon
gst
WB6
in r
egar
d to
cri
tica
l IT
infr
astr
uc-
ture
ide
ntifi
cati
on.
Proc
ess
of c
riti
cal
IT i
nfra
stru
ctur
e id
enti
fi-ca
tion
and
the
res
pect
ive
legi
slat
ive
proc
ess
is o
ngoi
ng;
Koso
vo*
alre
ady
adop
ted
the
law
on
crit
ical
IT in
fras
truc
ture
, Al
bani
a ha
s id
enti
fied
and
the
Gov
ernm
ent
Decr
ee a
ppro
val i
s pe
ndin
g, S
erbi
a ha
s id
enti
fied
and
adop
ted
the
list
of IC
T sy
stem
s to
be
prot
ecte
d,
The
Form
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
blic
of
Mac
edon
ia -
man
y of
the
cri
tica
l in
fras
truc
ture
ope
rato
rs w
ere
iden
tifie
d, b
ut t
here
is
no o
ffici
al
deci
sion
on
iden
tific
atio
n of
cri
tica
l IT
infr
astr
uctu
re;
Mon
tene
gro
star
ted
the
proc
ess
of i
dent
ifica
tion
and
exp
ects
thi
s to
be
com
-pl
eted
in t
he n
ext
year
s.
No
expl
icit
inpu
t fr
om t
he e
cono
mie
s on
the
leve
l of
prot
ecti
on o
f cr
itic
al IT
infr
astr
uctu
re.
c. A
ll W
B6 h
ave
esta
blis
hed
CSIR
Ts –
tho
ugh
unde
rdev
elop
ed a
nd
nece
ssit
atin
g lo
nger
-ter
m c
apac
ity-
build
ing
prog
ram
mes
. CS
IRTs
fr
om W
B6 h
ave
part
icip
ated
in
diff
eren
t bi
late
ral
or r
egio
nal
even
ts in
the
are
a of
cyb
erse
curi
ty.
d. R
CC n
etw
orke
d th
e CS
IRTs
fro
m t
he W
este
rn B
alka
ns a
nd e
x-te
nded
cap
acit
y bu
ildin
g to
the
ir r
epre
sent
ativ
es.
The
disc
us-
sion
in t
his
form
of
CSIR
Ts w
ill c
onti
nue.
A r
egio
nal C
onfe
renc
e of
CS
IRTs
pro
pose
d by
The
For
mer
Yug
osla
v Re
publ
ic o
f M
aced
onia
is
to
be o
rgan
ised
in
Oct
ober
201
8 du
ring
the
Eur
opea
n Cy
bers
e-cu
rity
mon
th.
The
mai
n pu
rpos
e is
to
gath
er r
epre
sent
ativ
es a
nd
head
s of
all
the
Nat
iona
l CS
IRTs
fro
m t
he r
egio
n (1
0 co
untr
ies,
in
clud
ing
WB6
eco
nom
ies)
.
CSIR
T fr
om T
he F
orm
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
blic
of
Mac
edon
ia h
as s
igne
d m
emor
andu
ms
of u
nder
stan
ding
wit
h th
e CS
IRTs
fro
m K
osov
o* a
nd
Alba
nia.
Cur
rent
ly c
omm
unic
atio
n w
ith
othe
r go
vern
men
t CS
IRTs
fr
om W
B ec
onom
ies
on p
oten
tial
ly s
igni
ng M
oUs.
To f
acili
tate
the
par
tici
pati
on t
o EN
ISA
wor
k, c
ompl
iant
wit
h th
e W
B6 D
igit
al S
umm
it c
oncl
usio
ns,
RCC
has
rece
ntly
sen
t a
lett
er t
o EN
ISA
Exec
utiv
e Di
rect
or e
xplo
ring
pro
spec
ts t
o pa
rtak
e in
EN
ISA
wor
k/ac
tivi
ties
.
70 71
Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.IV
.3.
Digi
tal e
cono
my
and
soci
ety,
Incl
usiv
e di
gita
l soc
iety
Dev
elop
and
str
engt
hen
supp
ly o
f di
gita
l ski
lls:
Deve
lop
digi
tal s
kills
is j
oint
ly r
ecog
nise
d by
WB6
and
nee
d to
ups
cale
dig
ital
ski
lls p
rogr
amm
e is
und
er-
lined
. How
ever
, the
pro
gres
s is
une
ven.
The
re a
re a
ttem
pts
to d
evel
op d
igit
al s
kills
pro
gram
mes
. Hen
ce, S
erbi
a is
at
the
final
sta
ge o
f app
rova
l of t
he D
igit
al
Skill
Dev
elop
men
t St
rate
gy,
Koso
vo*
has
unde
rtak
en a
stu
dy o
n di
gita
l ski
lls w
ith
the
supp
ort
of t
he W
orld
Ban
k ai
min
g to
dev
elop
a p
rogr
amm
e fo
cuss
ing
on y
oung
peo
ple.
Som
e of
the
eco
nom
ies
have
inve
sted
eff
orts
in t
rain
ing
and
incr
ease
of
know
ledg
e in
dig
ital
ski
ll fo
r ta
rget
ed g
roup
. In
Kos
ovo*
, as
par
t of
Wom
en O
nlin
e W
ork
(WoW
), w
omen
wer
e ta
rget
ed in
5 m
unic
ipal
itie
s (U
SAID
and
Sw
is In
terc
oope
rati
on s
uppo
rt)
duri
ng t
he la
st y
ear
– th
e pr
ogra
mm
e w
ill b
e ex
tend
ed t
o al
l mun
icip
alit
ies
in t
he u
pcom
ing
5 ye
ars.
The
For
mer
Yug
osla
v Re
publ
ic o
f M
aced
onia
has
con
duct
ed t
rain
ing
for
basi
c IT
ski
lls a
nd
adva
nced
IT s
kills
for
une
mpl
oyed
peo
ple.
Nat
iona
l Com
preh
ensi
ve E
duca
tion
Str
ateg
y 20
18-2
025
was
ado
pted
in J
anua
ry 2
018,
whe
re o
ne o
f th
e pr
iori
ties
is
ens
urin
g w
ides
prea
d us
e of
ICT
in e
duca
tion
, tr
aini
ng a
nd d
igit
al li
tera
cy a
nd in
Apr
il 20
18,
the
new
Law
on
Mat
hem
atic
s an
d In
form
atio
n G
ymna
sium
w
as a
dopt
ed.
The
Form
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
blic
of
Mac
edon
ia s
tim
ulat
ed t
he c
ompa
nies
to
empl
oy p
erso
ns w
ith
disa
bilit
ies
in a
ll m
easu
res
for
empl
oym
ent.
Ad
diti
onal
ly,
Koso
vo*
thro
ugh
IPA
2017
fun
ds –
3 m
ln E
uro
unti
l 202
1 –
will
dev
elop
hum
an c
apac
itie
s fo
r di
gita
l eco
nom
y an
d su
ppor
t fo
r di
gita
l bus
ines
ses.
In
The
For
mer
Yug
osla
v Re
publ
ic o
f M
aced
onia
tra
inin
gs f
or a
dvan
ced
IT s
kills
und
er IP
A gr
ant
proj
ects
are
ong
oing
and
in S
erbi
a, t
he G
over
nmen
t off
ers
ince
ntiv
es t
o N
GO
s w
ho im
plem
ent
digi
tal s
kills
pro
ject
s fo
r w
omen
– a
s pa
rt o
f th
e IT
Indu
stry
Dev
elop
men
t St
rate
gy. A
ddit
iona
lly,
Gov
ernm
ent
foun
ded
proj
ect
to t
rain
ret
ired
peo
ple
is p
lann
ed d
urin
g th
e fir
st h
alf
of 2
018.
A pr
opos
al o
n di
gita
l sk
ills
and
com
pete
nces
is
prio
riti
sed
wit
hin
the
SEE2
020
Prog
ram
min
g Do
cum
ent
2018
-202
0. A
ddit
iona
lly,
WB6
Dig
ital
Sum
mit
rec
-og
nise
d th
e ne
ed t
o w
ork
on d
igit
al s
kills
pro
gram
mes
and
rea
ffirm
ed t
he in
tere
st o
f W
B6 t
o in
tegr
ate
wit
hin
the
EU D
igit
al S
kills
and
Job
s Co
alit
ion,
by
endo
rsin
g th
e ob
ject
ives
and
pri
ncip
les
of t
he C
oalit
ion
and
othe
r EU
init
iati
ves
in t
he a
rea.
IV.3
.1.
De-
velo
p an
d st
ren
gth
en
supp
ly
of
digi
tal s
kills
a. I
niti
ate
regi
onal
coo
pera
tion
on
cert
ified
re/
qual
ifica
tion
dig
ital
ski
lls p
rogr
amm
es
2018
a. D
evel
op d
igit
al s
kills
is
join
tly
reco
gnis
ed b
y W
B6 a
nd n
eed
to
upsc
ale
digi
tal
skill
s pr
ogra
mm
e is
und
erlin
ed.
How
ever
, th
e pr
o-gr
ess
is u
neve
n. S
erbi
a is
at
the
final
sta
ge o
f app
rova
l of t
he D
igit
al
Skill
Dev
elop
men
t St
rate
gy,
whi
le t
he A
ctio
n Pl
an f
or I
T In
dust
ry
Deve
lopm
ent
prov
ides
for
act
ivit
ies
rela
ted
to h
uman
cap
acit
y de
-ve
lopm
ent.
Kos
ovo*
has
und
erta
ken
a st
udy
on d
igit
al s
kills
wit
h th
e su
ppor
t of
the
Wor
ld B
ank
aim
ing
to d
evel
op a
pro
gram
me
focu
ssin
g on
you
ng p
eopl
e. A
pro
posa
l on
dig
ital
ski
lls a
nd c
om-
pete
nces
is p
rior
itis
ed w
ithi
n th
e SE
E202
0 Pr
ogra
mm
ing
Docu
men
t 20
18-2
020.
Add
itio
nally
, W
B6 D
igit
al S
umm
it r
ecog
nise
d th
e ne
ed
to w
ork
on d
igit
al s
kills
pro
gram
mes
- r
eaffi
rmin
g th
e in
tere
st t
o-w
ards
int
egra
tion
wit
hin
the
EU D
igit
al S
kills
and
Job
s Co
alit
ion,
by
end
orsi
ng t
he o
bjec
tive
s an
d pr
inci
ples
of
the
Coal
itio
n. In
The
Fo
rmer
Yug
osla
v Re
publ
ic o
f M
aced
onia
, N
atio
nal
Com
preh
ensi
ve
Educ
atio
n St
rate
gy 2
018-
2025
was
ado
pted
in J
anua
ry 2
018,
whe
re
one
of t
he p
rior
itie
s is
to
ensu
re w
ides
prea
d us
e of
ICT
in
educ
a-ti
on, t
rain
ing
and
digi
tal l
iter
acy
in a
ll ar
eas:
pre
-sch
ool e
duca
tion
, pr
imar
y ed
ucat
ion
(gen
eral
), g
ener
al s
econ
dary
edu
cati
on,
voca
-ti
onal
edu
cati
on a
nd t
rain
ings
, un
iver
sity
2
b. P
ilot
a re
gion
al in
terv
enti
on a
imed
at
enha
nc-
ing
basi
c di
gita
l sk
ills
for
citi
zens
to
enga
ge o
n-lin
eCo
ntin
uous
c. P
ilot
a re
gion
al in
terv
enti
on a
imed
at
enha
nc-
ing
skill
s fo
r IT
spe
cial
ists
, th
at w
ould
be
clos
ely
linke
d to
the
dem
and
from
and
coo
rdin
ated
wit
h di
gita
l bus
ines
ses
in W
B6 a
nd E
U;
2018
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.
d. S
et u
p an
d im
plem
ent
regi
onal
tra
inin
g an
d em
ploy
abili
ty e
nhan
cem
ent
prog
ram
me
aim
ing
to m
obili
se a
nd u
pski
ll un
/und
erem
ploy
ed p
opu-
lati
on (
wom
en)
to s
eek
reve
nue
gene
rati
on o
p-po
rtun
itie
s th
roug
h on
line
wor
k pl
atfo
rms;
wit
h pa
rtic
ular
em
phas
is o
n yo
uth,
wom
en,
and
peo-
ple
wit
h di
sabi
litie
s
2018
educ
atio
n, r
esea
rch
and
inno
vati
ons,
adu
lt e
duca
tion
, as
wel
l as
te
ache
rs.
The
new
Law
on
Mat
hem
atic
s an
d In
form
atio
n G
ymna
-si
um w
as a
dopt
ed in
Apr
il 20
18.
b. S
ome
of t
he e
cono
mie
s ha
ve i
nves
ted
effor
ts i
n tr
aini
ng a
nd
incr
ease
of
know
ledg
e in
dig
ital
ski
lls f
or t
arge
ted
grou
ps.
In K
o-so
vo*,
as
part
of
Wom
en O
nlin
e W
ork
(WoW
), w
omen
are
tar
gete
d in
5 m
unic
ipal
itie
s (U
SAID
and
Sw
is In
terc
oope
rati
on s
uppo
rt)
dur-
ing
the
last
yea
r an
d tr
aini
ng w
as c
ondu
cted
– t
he p
rogr
amm
e w
ill
be e
xten
ded
to a
ll m
unic
ipal
itie
s in
the
upc
omin
g 5
year
s; S
erbi
a is
at
an a
dvan
ced
stag
e of
pre
pari
ng a
ded
icat
ed D
igit
al S
kills
st
rate
gy;
The
Form
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
blic
of
Mac
edon
ia i
s pr
epar
-in
g a
ICT
Stra
tegy
, ha
s co
nduc
ted
trai
ning
for
bas
ic I
T sk
ills
and
adva
nced
IT s
kills
for
une
mpl
oyed
peo
ple.
135
peo
ple
have
bee
n tr
aine
d du
ring
201
7 an
d 30
0 m
ore
is t
arge
ted
for
2018
.
c. I
n Ko
sovo
*, s
uppo
rt f
rom
IPA
201
7 –
3 m
ln E
uro
unti
l 20
21 –
to
dev
elop
hum
an c
apac
itie
s fo
r di
gita
l ec
onom
y an
d su
ppor
t fo
r di
gita
l bus
ines
ses.
In T
he F
orm
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
blic
of
Mac
edon
ia
trai
ning
s fo
r ad
vanc
ed IT
ski
lls u
nder
IPA
gran
t pr
ojec
ts a
re o
ngo-
ing.
d. T
he fi
rst
cent
re in
The
For
mer
Yug
osla
v Re
publ
ic o
f M
aced
onia
an
d th
e re
gion
, H
ubIT
, un
der
USA
ID S
ocia
l In
clus
ion
Proj
ect
was
op
ened
in S
kopj
e, o
ffer
ing
serv
ices
to
youn
g pe
ople
wit
h di
sabi
li-ti
es a
nd e
nabl
ing
them
to
star
t ca
reer
s in
the
IT
sect
or.
By s
up-
port
ing
this
pro
ject
and
thr
ough
the
ope
rati
onal
pla
n, T
he F
orm
er
Yugo
slav
Rep
ublic
of
Mac
edon
ia s
tim
ulat
ed t
he c
ompa
nies
to
em-
ploy
per
sons
wit
h di
sabi
litie
s in
all
mea
sure
s fo
r em
ploy
men
t. I
n Se
rbia
, th
e G
over
nmen
t off
ers
ince
ntiv
es t
o N
GO
s w
ho im
plem
ent
digi
tal
skill
s pr
ojec
ts f
or w
omen
– a
s pa
rt o
f th
e IT
Ind
ustr
y De
-ve
lopm
ent
Stra
tegy
. Add
itio
nally
, G
over
nmen
t fo
unde
d pr
ojec
t to
tr
ain
reti
red
peop
le is
pla
nned
dur
ing
the
first
hal
f of
201
8.
IV.4
. D
igit
isat
ion,
Dat
a ec
onom
y, S
tand
ards
and
Inte
rope
rabi
lity,
Inno
vati
on
72 73
Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.Pr
omot
e up
take
of S
mar
t Tec
hnol
ogie
s an
d Ac
cele
rate
Dig
itis
atio
n: T
he d
iscu
ssio
n on
dig
ital
tra
nsfo
rmat
ion
and
digi
tal e
cono
my
and
soci
ety
is la
unch
ed.
The
WB6
Dig
ital
Sum
mit
org
anis
ed o
n 18
-19
Apri
l 201
8, in
Sko
pje
- th
e fir
st e
ver
orga
nise
d in
thi
s fo
rmat
– r
econ
firm
ed t
he e
xpre
ssed
will
ingn
ess
and
com
-m
itm
ent
of W
B6 t
o w
ork
on a
reg
iona
l dig
ital
age
nda
for
the
bene
fits
of it
s ci
tize
ns a
nd t
he e
cono
my
as a
who
le.
The
conc
lusi
ons
of t
he D
igit
al S
umm
it
reaffi
rmed
the
com
mit
men
t of
WB6
to
wor
k on
: di
gita
l ski
lls,
trus
t an
d se
curi
ty,
digi
tal c
onne
ctiv
ity
and
digi
tal e
cono
my
and
soci
ety.
All W
B6 e
cono
mie
s ar
e m
embe
rs o
f th
e O
pen
Gov
ernm
ent
Part
ners
hip
init
iati
ve,
exce
pt K
osov
o*. A
ll es
tabl
ishe
d fo
rms
of c
entr
al p
orta
ls f
or o
pen
data
al-
thou
gh n
o re
gion
al d
ialo
gue
yet
on h
ow t
his
data
can
be
regi
onal
ly e
xcha
nged
. Di
scus
sion
on
regi
onal
coo
rdin
atio
n on
OPG
can
be
furt
her
exte
nded
wit
hin
the
e-G
over
nmen
t W
orki
ng G
roup
mem
bers
and
ReS
PA in
rel
atio
n to
e-G
over
nmen
t /
Ope
n G
over
nmen
t /
Ope
n Da
ta,
and
e-Pa
rtic
ipat
ion.
All W
B6 e
cono
mie
s ha
ve a
dopt
ed e
-aut
hent
icat
ion
fram
ewor
ks a
nd m
ade
prog
ress
in im
prov
ing
thei
r e-a
uthe
ntic
atio
n sc
hem
es. I
n ad
diti
on, W
B6 e
cono
mie
s ha
ve d
iffer
ent
leve
l of
harm
onis
atio
n of
dom
esti
c le
gisl
atio
n w
ith
eIDA
S re
gula
tion
, w
ith
Alba
nia,
Ser
bia
and
Mon
tene
gro
havi
ng a
lrea
dy t
rans
pose
d eI
DAS
in n
ew la
ws,
and
in T
he F
orm
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
blic
of
Mac
edon
ia t
he n
ew d
raft
law
is in
the
pro
cess
of
publ
ic c
onsu
ltat
ion.
The
inte
rope
rabi
lity
plat
form
is
fun
ctio
nal i
n Al
bani
a, T
he F
orm
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
blic
of
Mac
edon
ia,
rece
ntly
ado
pted
in B
osni
a an
d H
erze
govi
na a
nd t
o a
cert
ain
exte
nt in
Ser
bia
whe
re
e-go
vern
men
t se
rvic
es a
re n
ot y
et d
eplo
yed
on t
he e
-NIF
fra
mew
ork.
E-g
over
nmen
t se
rvic
es a
re g
radu
ally
bei
ng a
ligne
d w
ith
the
Nat
iona
l Int
erop
erab
ility
Fr
amew
orks
.
Acro
ss t
he r
egio
n th
ere
are
seve
ral d
igit
al h
ubs
and
inno
vati
on p
arks
. M
ost
have
bee
n de
velo
ped
wit
h do
nor
fund
ing
(inc
ludi
ng E
U,
the
Wor
ld B
ank,
GIZ
, U
SAID
and
oth
er b
ilate
ral d
onor
s),
priv
ate
sect
or f
undi
ng,
or b
oth.
The
pan
-Eur
opea
n ne
twor
k of
Dig
ital
Inno
vati
on H
ubs
Cata
logu
e Pr
ojec
t lis
ts a
roun
d 20
hu
bs f
rom
the
reg
ion
and
prov
ides
opp
ortu
niti
es f
or c
oope
rati
on, a
s do
Hor
izon
202
0 an
d EU
Ter
rito
rial
and
Cro
ss-b
orde
r Pr
ogra
mm
es. T
he F
orm
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
blic
of M
aced
onia
has
a F
und
for
Inno
vati
on a
nd T
echn
olog
y De
velo
pmen
t fo
r su
ppor
ting
inno
vati
ve p
roje
cts;
Fea
sibi
lity
stud
y fo
r es
tabl
ishm
ent
of S
ci-
ence
and
Tec
hnol
ogy
Park
in T
he F
orm
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
blic
of
Mac
edon
ia h
as s
tart
ed –
to
be fi
nanc
ed u
nder
the
Eur
opea
n U
nion
Inte
grat
ion
Faci
lity
(EU
IF)
tool
, ava
ilabl
e un
der
IPA
II 20
14-2
020.
Add
itio
nally
, the
pro
ject
inno
vati
on e
cosy
stem
in t
he c
ross
-bor
der
area
(CBC
Inno
v8) a
s pa
rt o
f the
IPA
2 Cr
oss-
Bord
er
Prog
ram
me
betw
een
The
Form
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
blic
of
Mac
edon
ia a
nd A
lban
ia o
ffici
ally
sta
rted
in J
anua
ry 2
018
and
will
last
28
mon
ths.
Mor
eove
r, Se
rbia
al
so h
as a
n in
nova
tion
fun
d w
hile
oth
er e
cono
mie
s ha
ve s
tart
ed in
trod
ucin
g di
ffer
ent
inno
vati
on v
ouch
er s
chem
es o
n a
smal
ler
scal
e.
IV
.4
.1
. P
ro
mo
te
upta
ke
of
Smar
t Te
ch-
nolo
gies
and
A
cce
lera
te
Dig
itis
atio
n
a. S
et u
p re
gion
al c
oope
rati
ve d
ialo
gue
on d
igit
al
tran
sfor
mat
ion
chal
leng
es a
nd p
rosp
ects
in W
B
i. A
sses
s th
e st
ate
of p
lay
of t
he b
usin
ess
envi
-ro
nmen
t an
d th
e m
ulti
-fac
eted
ben
efits
an
ac-
cele
rate
d an
d re
gion
al D
igit
al T
rans
form
atio
n w
ould
cre
ate
in t
he W
este
rn B
alka
ns
2017
a. T
he in
dust
ry-l
ed s
tudy
The
Impa
ct o
f Di
gita
l Tra
nsfo
rmat
ion
on
the
Wes
tern
Bal
kans
– T
ackl
ing
the
Chal
leng
es t
owar
ds P
olit
ical
St
abili
ty a
nd E
cono
mic
Pro
sper
ity
alon
g w
ith
the
polic
y br
ief
is fi
-na
lised
and
pre
sent
ed d
urin
g th
e W
B6 D
igit
al S
umm
it.
Disc
ussi
ons
on t
he e
xten
t to
whi
ch t
he r
ecom
men
dati
ons
will
be
tran
slat
ed
in d
omes
tic
polic
ies
or r
egio
nal
acti
ons
shou
ld b
e di
scus
sed
in
regi
onal
mec
hani
sms.
The
WB6
Dig
ital
Sum
mit
org
anis
ed o
n 18
-19
Apri
l 20
18,
in S
kopj
e -
the
first
eve
r or
gani
sed
in t
his
form
at –
rec
onfir
med
the
ex-
pres
sed
will
ingn
ess
and
com
mit
men
t of
WB6
to
wor
k on
a r
egio
nal
digi
tal
agen
da f
or t
he b
enefi
ts o
f it
s ci
tize
ns a
nd t
he e
cono
my
as a
who
le.
The
conc
lusi
ons
of t
he D
igit
al S
umm
it r
eaffi
rmed
the
co
mm
itm
ent
of W
B6 t
o w
ork
on:
digi
tal
skill
s, t
rust
and
sec
urit
y,
digi
tal c
onne
ctiv
ity
and
digi
tal e
cono
my
and
soci
ety.
2.85
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.ii.
Org
anis
e an
nual
reg
iona
l W
B6 D
igit
al S
um-
mit
s so
as
to c
ontr
ibut
e to
a c
onti
nuou
s di
a-lo
gue
amon
gst
WB6
aut
hori
ties
, no
n-go
vern
-m
enta
l or
gani
sati
ons,
co
mpa
nies
, ch
ambe
rs,
and
acad
emia
2018
-on-
war
ds
b. W
ith
resp
ect
to D
ata
Econ
omy,
exc
ept
for
Koso
vo*,
all
WB6
ec
onom
ies
are
mem
bers
of
the
Ope
n G
over
nmen
t Pa
rtne
rshi
p in
itia
tive
. Al
lWB6
eco
nom
ies
have
est
ablis
hed
form
s of
cen
tral
po
rtal
s fo
r op
en d
ata.
No
regi
onal
dia
logu
e ye
t on
how
thi
s da
ta
can
be r
egio
nally
exc
hang
ed –
The
For
mer
Yug
osla
v Re
publ
ic o
f M
aced
onia
upg
rade
d ce
ntra
l op
en d
ata
port
al w
hich
can
be
har-
vest
able
by
cent
ral E
urop
e op
en d
ata
port
al a
nd m
ay b
e av
aila
ble
for
any
inte
rest
ed W
B6 e
cono
my.
Disc
ussi
on o
n re
gion
al c
oord
inat
ion
on O
PG s
houl
d be
fur
ther
st
irre
d at
reg
iona
l m
echa
nism
. RE
SPA
laun
ched
the
E-
to O
pen
Gov
ernm
ent
- Re
gion
al C
ompa
rati
ve A
naly
sis
Repo
rt in
201
6 -
the
e-G
over
nmen
t W
orki
ng G
roup
mem
bers
and
ReS
PA s
taff
dis
cuss
ed
and
join
tly
form
ulat
ed f
utur
e Re
SPA
acti
viti
es,
incl
udin
g e-
Gov
-er
nmen
t /
Ope
n G
over
nmen
t /
Ope
n Da
ta,
and
e-Pa
rtic
ipat
ion.
c. A
ll W
B6 e
cono
mie
s ha
ve a
dopt
ed e
-aut
hent
icat
ion
fram
ewor
ks
and
mad
e pr
ogre
ss i
n im
prov
ing
thei
r e-
auth
enti
cati
on s
chem
es.
In a
ddit
ion,
WB6
eco
nom
ies
have
diff
eren
t le
vel o
f ha
rmon
isat
ion
of t
heir
legi
slat
ion
wit
h eI
DAS
regu
lati
on, w
ith
Alba
nia,
Ser
bia
and
Mon
tene
gro
havi
ng a
lrea
dy t
rans
pose
d eI
DAS
in n
ew l
aws,
and
in
The
Form
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
blic
of
Mac
edon
ia t
he n
ew d
raft
law
is
in t
he p
roce
ss o
f pu
blic
con
sult
atio
n. T
he i
nter
oper
abili
ty p
lat-
form
is
func
tion
al i
n Al
bani
a, T
he F
orm
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
blic
of
Mac
edon
ia,
rece
ntly
ado
pted
in
Bosn
ia a
nd H
erze
govi
na a
nd t
o a
cert
ain
exte
nt i
n Se
rbia
whe
re e
-gov
ernm
ent
serv
ices
are
not
ye
t de
ploy
ed o
n th
e e-
NIF
fra
mew
ork.
E-g
over
nmen
t se
rvic
es a
re
grad
ually
bei
ng a
ligne
d w
ith
the
Nat
iona
l Int
erop
erab
ility
Fra
me-
wor
ks.
d. A
cros
s th
e re
gion
the
re a
re s
ever
al d
igit
al h
ubs
and
inno
va-
tion
par
ks.
Mos
t ha
ve b
een
deve
lope
d w
ith
dono
r fu
ndin
g (G
IZ,
USA
ID,
EU,
the
Wor
ld B
ank,
bila
tera
l do
nors
and
pri
vate
sec
tor
com
pani
es).
The
pan
-Eur
opea
n ne
twor
k of
Dig
ital
Inno
vati
on H
ubs
Cata
logu
e Pr
ojec
t lis
ts a
roun
d 20
hub
s fr
om t
he r
egio
n an
d pr
o-vi
des
oppo
rtun
itie
s fo
r co
oper
atio
n, a
s do
Hor
izon
202
0 an
d EU
Te
rrit
oria
l and
Cro
ss-b
orde
r Pr
ogra
mm
es.
b. F
oste
r Da
ta e
cono
my
(Big
Dat
a, O
pen
Data
and
O
pen
Gov
ernm
ent)
:
i. S
uppo
rt a
n op
en d
ata
regi
on a
nd i
mpr
ove
qual
ity
of o
pen
data
por
tals
thr
ough
reg
iona
l co
oper
atio
n an
d be
st p
ract
ice
exch
ange
Cont
inuo
us
ii. S
tren
gthe
n re
gion
al c
oord
inat
ion
on u
se,
ex-
chan
ge a
nd s
afe
and
relia
ble
flow
, ac
cess
and
tr
ansf
er o
f da
ta a
nd i
nteg
rati
on w
ithi
n th
e Eu
-ro
pean
dat
a ec
osys
tem
and
eco
nom
y
Cont
inuo
us
c. A
lign
stan
dard
s, c
ompl
emen
t in
tero
pera
bilit
y fr
amew
orks
and
int
rodu
ce a
pan
-Eur
opea
n di
-m
ensi
on,
in li
ne w
ith
EIF:
i. C
oord
inat
e re
gion
al a
ctiv
itie
s on
int
erop
er-
abili
ty s
tand
ards
and
fac
ilita
te d
evel
opm
ent
of
stan
dard
s an
d in
tero
pera
bilit
y in
itia
tive
s
Cont
inuo
us
d. F
oste
r co
oper
atio
n am
ongs
t di
gita
l hub
s:
e. i
. Fa
cilit
ate
Busi
ness
Inv
estm
ents
in
rese
arch
an
d In
nova
tion
and
in t
he C
reat
ion
of S
tart
-Ups
Cont
inuo
us
74 75
Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in Western Balkan Six
Obj
ecti
ves
Acti
ons
Tim
elin
eSt
ate
of p
lay
at r
egio
nal l
evel
Scor
.
ii. P
ilot
regi
onal
coo
pera
tion
(“t
win
ning
”) i
ni-
tiat
ives
am
ongs
t te
chno
logy
/inn
ovat
ion
park
s an
d as
sess
dem
and
and
pros
pect
s fo
r es
tabl
ish-
men
t of
reg
iona
l dig
ital
Inno
vati
on h
ubs.
2018
-on-
war
ds
The
mos
t ad
vanc
ed a
mon
gst
WB6
– T
he F
orm
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
b-lic
of
Mac
edon
ia -
ha
s a
Fund
for
Inn
ovat
ions
and
Tec
hnol
ogy
Deve
lopm
ent
for
supp
orti
ng in
nova
tive
pro
ject
s; F
easi
bilit
y st
udy
for
esta
blis
hmen
t of
Sci
ence
and
Tec
hnol
ogy
Park
in
The
Form
er
Yugo
slav
Rep
ublic
of
Mac
edon
ia h
as s
tart
ed –
to
be fi
nanc
ed u
nder
th
e Eu
rope
an U
nion
Inte
grat
ion
Faci
lity
(EU
IF)
tool
, av
aila
ble
un-
der
IPA
II 20
14-2
020.
Addi
tion
ally
, the
pro
ject
inno
vati
on e
cosy
stem
in t
he c
ross
-bor
der
area
(CB
C In
nov8
) as
par
t of
the
IPA
2 C
ross
-Bor
der
Prog
ram
me
betw
een
The
Form
er Y
ugos
lav
Repu
blic
of
Mac
edon
ia a
nd A
lban
ia
offici
ally
sta
rted
in
Janu
ary
2018
and
will
las
t 28
mon
ths.
The
Fu
nd is
in p
artn
ersh
ip w
ith
Euro
part
ners
Dev
elop
men
t fr
om A
lba-
nia
(Lea
d Pa
rtne
r),
Nat
iona
l Ce
nter
for
Inn
ovat
ion
and
Entr
epre
-ne
uria
l Le
arni
ng D
evel
opm
ent
(NCR
IPU
) fr
om T
he F
orm
er Y
ugo-
slav
Rep
ublic
of
Mac
edon
ia a
nd A
genc
y fo
r Re
sear
ch,
Tech
nolo
gy
and
Inno
vati
on f
rom
Alb
ania
(AR
Ti).
To b
e de
velo
ped
at a
late
r st
age
Secu
ring
the
hum
an a
nd fi
nanc
ial r
esou
rces
nee
ded
for
the
impl
emen
tati
on o
f th
e Ac
tion
Pla
na.
Pre
pare
a n
eeds
ass
essm
ent
of r
esou
rces
nee
d-ed
to
impl
emen
t th
e Ac
tion
Pla
n20
17M
AP R
EA S
tock
taki
ng a
nd N
eeds
Ass
essm
ent
prep
ared
and
pre
-se
nted
at
the
Dono
r Co
ordi
nati
on M
eeti
ng.
5
b. S
ecur
e hu
man
and
fina
ncia
l res
ourc
es t
hat
can
be m
obili
sed
to m
eet
the
need
s id
enti
fied
unde
r a)
Cont
inuo
usRe
gion
al n
eeds
iden
tifie
d an
d sy
stem
atis
ed a
s re
gion
al p
roje
ct in
-te
rven
tion
s to
be
pote
ntia
lly fi
nanc
ed b
y do
nors
.
Coor
dina
tion
wit
h po
tent
ial d
onor
s is
ong
oing
4
c. O
rgan
ise
a do
nor
coor
dina
tion
con
fere
nce
in
orde
r to
coo
rdin
ate
dono
r su
ppor
t an
d m
obili
se
the
addi
tion
al r
esou
rces
nee
ded
to i
mpl
emen
t th
e Ac
tion
Pla
n
2017
Fort
h M
eeti
ng o
n Do
nor
Coor
dina
tion
wit
h cl
ear
focu
s on
MAP
REA
or
gani
sed
on 1
3 M
arch
201
8.5
Ann
ual R
epor
t on
Impl
emen
tati
on o
f th
e M
ulti
-Ann
ual A
ctio
n Pl
an f
or a
Reg
iona
l Eco
nom
ic A
rea
in W
este
rn B
alka
n Si
x
Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat
Trg Bosne i Hercegovine 1/V71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
T +387 33 561 700 F +387 33 561 701 E [email protected]
RegionalCooperationCouncil RCCSecrccintrcc.int
RegionalCooperationCouncil
Annual Report onImplementation of theMulti-Annual Action Planfor a Regional Economic Areain Western Balkan Six