During the World Conference on Science for the 21st. Century: A New Commitment (WCS), June 1999, Hungary, the Science Agenda - Framework for Action adopted specified that: "UNESCO should develop concrete initiatives for international scientific cooperation … in particular on regional basis”.

The Meeting of Ministers and Senior Officials responsible for Science Policy in Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), 29 June 1999, Budapest (Hungary) recognised the importance of regular consultations in the field of science policy-making both on ministerial and experts levels stressing the necessity to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western Europe in S&T. Implementing the recommendations of both Meetings in Budapest and Paris, ROSTE joined the efforts of pre-accession Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) experts and the EUROPOLIS task force in a Workshop of Experts From Pre-Accession CEEC and Europolis Project Group, May 2000, Venice (Italy).


International Conference of Experts March 2001, Venice (Italy)
The Conference focused on the most important scientific research projects carried out at regional level in South East Europe and on the potential to develop co-operation in some strategic fields of research and its applications.

Round Table of Ministers of Science October 2001, Paris (France)
During the Round Table, follow-up to the Venice Conference of Experts, on the basis of the conclusions and recommendations made by the participants from the South Eastern European countries, a Final Communiqué was adopted for the need of specific measures to be enacted.

High-level Conference on Strenghthening Cooperation in South east Europe April 2002, Paris
In the Conclusions, Mr K. Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO and Chairperson, raised as a priority implementing the commitments contained in the Final Communiqué adopted by the Round Table of Ministers of Science on Rebuilding Scientific Co-operation in South-East Europe (24 October 2001, UNESCO), in particular through the organization of a donor conference, under the responsibility of UNESCO (chiefly its Bureau in Venice, ROSTE).

Donor Conference to be organised
With the aim to seek financial resources necessary to implement regional projects in fields of activities considered as priorities for the sub-region. Several Ad Hoc Working groups have been established in order to prepare concrete project proposals to be submitted to the Donor Conference in the fields of: Electronic Networking (ICARE), Research Infrastructures, Social & Human Sciences, Young Scientists, Water & Sustainable Development, Biodiversity, Materials Science, Agriculture and Sustainable Development, Life sciences, Seismology.