European Commission

What's new
  • ERA conference - Working together to strengthen research in Europe
    Brussels, 21-23 October 2009
  • ERAWATCH Analytical Country reports 2009: Analysis of policy mixes to foster R&D investment and to contribute to the ERA. Read more

What is the European Research Area?

In 2000, the EU decided to create the European Research Area (ERA). This means creating a unified area all across Europe, in which we should:

  • Enable researchers to move and interact seamlessly, benefit from world-class infrastructures and work with excellent networks of research institutions;
  • Share, teach, value and use knowledge effectively for social, business and policy purposes;
  • Optimise and open European, national and regional research programmes in order to support the best research throughout Europe and coordinate these programmes to address major challenges together;
  • Develop strong links with partners around the world so that Europe benefits from the worldwide progress of knowledge, contributes to global development and takes a leading role in international initiatives to solve global issues.

What is it for?

Such an ERA should inspire the best talents to enter research careers in Europe, incite industry to invest more in European research – contributing to the EU objective to devote 3% of GDP for research, and strongly contribute to the creation of sustainable growth and jobs.

Seven years on, the creation of ERA has become a central pillar of the EU 'Lisbon Strategy' for growth and jobs, together with the completion of the Single Market, the European 'broad-based innovation strategy' and the creation of a European Higher Education Area.

Where do we stand?

Many initiatives have been taken by the EU and Member States. But there are still strong national and institutional barriers which prevent ERA from becoming a reality.

For this reason, The European Commission has published a Green Paper on ERA reviewing progress made, where it still needs to be made and raising questions for debate. The Commission sought answers to these questions and solicited further new ideas in a public consultation which lasted from 1 May 2007 until 31 August 2007.

Following the public consultation results, the Commission and Member States are launching in 2008 new initiatives to develop ERA, including an enhanced political governance of ERA, called the "Ljubljana Process", and five initiatives on specific areas of the ERA Green Paper.