Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth met with Ministers from the Western Balkans in Skopje yesterday and today in a series of meetings that highlighted the joint efforts on implementing the Western Balkans Agenda on Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport.

The representatives reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying cooperation for stronger integration of the Western Balkans in the European Education Area, in the European Research Area and in the European Innovation Agenda. The EU is aiming to bring the Western Balkans closer to the EU and it created a set of tools and instruments to speed up the region's convergence. The EU's latest initiative, the new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans includes support for strengthening innovation, the green and digital transitions and offering further education opportunities to young people.