Brussels, July 1, Five Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia), and the Republic of Moldova secured full access to the European Union's new seven year research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020.

On behalf of Serbia, the agreement was signed by minister for education, science and technological development Mr Srdjan Verbic.

Association agreements will apply retroactively from 1 January 2014.