Bosnia and Herzegovina signed on November 24th, 2008 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the European Commission which will allow full access to the EC's 7th Research Framework Programme. This "associated status" will allow Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate in all calls for proposals and compete on an equal footing with the EU Member States and the other associated countries for research co-operation and support actions funded under FP7, as of January, 1st, 2009.

This Memorandum of Understanding represents an important step in Bosnia and Herzegovina's integration into the European Research Area and in the pre-accession process for European Union membership, thus becoming the 12th country associated to 7th Research Framework Programme.

The status of FP7 associated country will provide all scientific entities from Bosnia and Herzegovina – researchers, universities, associations or companies – with the possibility of participating in research cooperation with their counterparts across Europe and the world in order to build up their scientific excellence, including in scientific fields crucial to facilitate the implementation of EU legislation and standards. With Bosnia and Herzegovina, all Western Balkan countries are now associated to FP7 which will increase the research opportunities in the Region and support the regional competitiveness.

Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potočnik, welcomed Bosnia and Herzegovina's association to the FP7, and the fact that now all the Balkan countries are on board to participate in the European Research Area. Commissioner Potočnik, also highlighted that “research cooperation with Europe's scientific community is a tool that can smooth the way for the integration process of candidate and potential candidate countries into the European Union. In addition to forging links with scientists and companies across Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina will have new opportunities to work with its regional partners in addressing common challenges."

The signature ceremony was held in Brussels on November, 24th, with Commissioner Potočnik who signed the Memorandum on behalf of the European Commission and the Minister for Civil Affairs from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr.Sredoje Novic, who represented his country.

Associated countries to FP7

Association to FP7 means that these countries compete in FP7 on the same basis as EU Member States and the other associated countries. It opens up research opportunities for the European scientific community. Traditionally the Balkan countries have a solid scientific base, and more research cooperation with the EU will allow for a greater flow of ideas, people and transfer of technology. The signing of the MoU is the last step in a long procedure starting with: the request to become associated; discussing the terms and conditions of the association to FP7 and completing the respective internal adoption procedure.

The associated countries to date are Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Israel, Switzerland, Turkey, Croatia, FYRoM, Serbia, Montenegro, and Albania.