The Balkan countries should clearly show their unity and political will to the European institutions for creating a South East European International Institute for Sustainable Technologies. The project will promote the process of European integration in our region in the areas of research, education and medicine and will create new prospects for the technological exchange and career development of young scholars. This is what President Rumen Radev said, who held a meeting with the members of the board of directors of the South East European International Institute for Sustainable Technologies at 2 Dondukov street today. The meeting was attended by ministers and deputy-ministers of education, science and technologies, and also by state secretaries of the Western Balkan countries and by leading European scholars working in CERN.
“The basic parameters of the project should be outlined in the following months and the countries supporting it should sign a memorandum for cooperation which should be submitted to the EU. The Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU should be used to achieve progress. It is essential that this Institute be recognized as part of the European research infrastructure so that its funding can be ensured,” Rumen Radev further emphasized at the meeting.
The representatives of the Balkan countries voiced their gratitude to Bulgaria which has set the region’s European prospects as the top priority of its EU Council Presidency. The scientific communities in the Balkans have long been communicating with no restrictions in the universal language of science and it is essential that they be supported by political leaders as well, it was highlighted at the talks. Gratitude was also voiced to President Rumen Radev, whose top-level support for implementing the project is felt by the scholars from the region.
Sofia will host the first meeting of the Board of Directors of the South East European International Institute for Sustainable Technologies.