Conference Proceedings of the Fourteenth International Conference on European Integration - Innovating Europe

It is our great pleasure to present the Proceedings of the 2019 Fourteenth Annual International Academic Conference on European Integration. During the last 14 years, this conference has grown to become the leading venue that brings together representatives of higher education and researcher institutions, practitioners, international, national and regional policymakers, as well as students to exchange and discuss the latest research, challenges, and developments related to European integration. The University American College Skopje (Republic of North Macedonia) and the University of Rome Tor Vergata (Italy) organized this years’ Conference. It took place in the premises of the Ministry of foreign affairs, Republic of North Macedonia in May 2019.

The title of the 2019 conference was Innovating Europe through which this inter- and multi-disciplinary conference sought to examine the concept of innovation affecting all areas of life and all aspects of future European development. Considering the pressing need to find innovative economic, social and political solutions to evolving challenges to the European project, the 2019 conference challenged and stimulated the critical reflection on EU innovation policies, methodologies, and instruments by addressing issues strategic to EU Innovation. The total of 15 papers included in this proceedings volume was carefully reviewed (through a double-blind peer-review process) and selected from all submissions. All papers were organized in four topical sections named:

• Business Innovation,
• Innovations In Society And Education,
• Economy and Labor Market and
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the conference chairperson Prof. Ivan Dodovski and the opening and keynote speakers: Mr. Nikola Dimitrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia; Mr. Carlo Romeo, Italian Ambassador to the Republic of North Macedonia and Prof. Giuseppe Novelli, PhD – Rector of University of Rome Tor Vergata. This conference would not have been possible without the immense contribution of the peer reviews who contributed to the quality and selection of the papers. Our gratitude goes to our moderators: Prof. Snezana Hristova, Prof. Ivan Dodovski, and Mrs. Dushica Stevchevska Srbinoska. Finally, we would like to highlight our sincere appreciation to all the conference participants for choosing this venue for presenting and discussing their research ideas and findings.

With gratitude to everyone involved who brought their expertise and experience, we were able to mark the 14^th Annual International Conference on European Integration with high-quality debate and fruitful, constructive and open exchanges thus leaving our contribution in the academic and research community. Together we were able to shape a critical dialogue and offer tools, perspectives and options for future advancement of Europe’s innovation policy.