The European Research Area and Research on

European Politics

Pēteris Zilgalvis, J.D.European Commission

Head of Unit ‘Governance and Ethics’Directorate General For Research

The European Research Area

as policy and politics• Research as Treaty competence: the Single European Act and changes foreseen in the (pending) Lisbon Treaty

• Articles 179-182: legislative measures necessary to implement the ERA

ERA as Policy and Politics (2)• The Framework Programme

and/in the ERA: collaborative research and other research intiatives in a European dimension and a common space for researchers and knowledge

The European Research Area as policy and politics (2)

• ERA policy in the context of the internal market and its four freedoms, plus discussion of a ‘fifth freedom’

• ERA policy in the context of globalisation & transnational markets and networks

• ERA politics in the context of EU and MS competence, enlargement (first implemented in association to FP), external relations (e.g. via research international cooperation)

The European Research Area

as policy and politics (3)According to a current assessment of ERA results: European research is more firmly rooted

in society and responsive to its needs Actors of research and innovation in

Europe are empowered with a wider area of freedom, opportunities and services

Appropriate means and incentives are provided to most research stakeholders in the pursuit of world-class excellence

Revised Lisbon strategy targets are broadly met

The European Union as a research issue in

the FP• Paradoxically, research on the very working of the European institutions, the web of actors involved in EU decision making and the involvement of citizens in this only started at the European level in the late nineties –in the 5th FP.

The EU as a research issue in the FP (2)• At closer look, this development may not be

that paradoxical, but rather reflect the evolution of European integration which was launched as a political project to be implemented through economic means and cooperation, with a false start towards CED and CPE in the 50s – with political elements again later gaining prominence (inclusion of European citizenship in the M.Treaty, debates on 'democratic deficit‘, Constitution, European governance etc.).

The European Union as a research issue in the FP (3)

Since its start:• Around 20 projects in FP5 on issue of 'governance and

citizenship' gathering 7-8 institutions on average, i.e. 160 institutions involved

• Around 20 projects in FP6 on issues of governance, regulation, citizenship of which 9 large integrated projects and networks of excellence –ranging from 18 to 57 partner institutions each: overall, about 320 institutions. Together large and smaller projects involve about 400 institutions

• And research on conflicts, migration, social&econ. polices…

• Involving research institutions in all EU countries and beyond EU (associated countries and third countries)

• Leading to the development of some shared research infrastructures, programmes, etc. (e.g. databases, virtual libraries and reviews, joint training schools) as well as joint publications and other outputs geared towards academia as well as policy makers and the wider public

The European Union as a research issue in the FP (4)

In FP7, two main Activities of the Socio-economic sciences and Humanities Programme tackle EU policy and politics:

• Activity 4 on ‘Europe in the World’ –with recently selected projects on Conflicts&Peace, on Human Rights, on Multilateralism and the new EU external relations, on the EU seen from Outside..

• Activity 5 on ‘The Citizen in the EU’, with some projects on citizenship and on participation (3 out of 98 – drawing lessons for the future to avoid enormous oversubscription and therefore frustration..)

The European Union as a research issue in the FP (5)

And issues also in other Activities:• Activity 1, Growth, employment and

competitiveness • Activity 2, Combining economic,

social and environmental objectives• Activity 3, Major Trends in Society• Activity 6, Indicators• Activity 7, Foresight

Socio-economic sciences and Humanities: Call 2009

Call publication: 3rd September 2008Call Closure: 13th January 2009

Collaborative projects (Call A)Research for the benefit of Specific

Groups – Civil Society Organisations (Call A)

Collaborative projects for Specific Interational Cooperation Actions – SICA

(Call B) Coordination and Support Actions (Call C)

2009 Workprogramme Funding schemes

• Eligibility Criteria – Financial Thresholds – Maximum EC Requested Contribution

•Call A: Collaborative projects EUR 2.7 M•Call A: BSG–CSO EUR 1 M•Call B: CP–SICA EUR 3 M•Call C: CSA–CA and CSA–SA no financial

limits defined as eligibility criteria but indicative available budget indicated in Call Proposals outside these financial limits will be considered ineligible

2009 Workprogramme Evaluation Criteria

• Default evaluation criteria – Annex 2 of Cooperation Specific Programme

• The first and most important criterion is scientific quality –with a view to its European dimension

(e.g. for Call A, the scientific and/or technological excellence evaluation criterion will include the additional sub-criterion: 'appropriate comparative perspective and the largest possible European coverage in relation to the proposed research‘)

CALL SSH-2009-A

Activity 8.1 : Growth, employment and competitiveness in a knowledge society –

the European case– Area 8.1.1 : Changing role of knowledge throughout the

economy Topic: SSH-2009 – 1.1.1 Education in a European knowledge society

Modern skills for young people in a knowledge society, contribution of

SSH to the development of such skills, reduction of inequalities, role of

actors (pupils, teachers, unions, employers, etc.) in reforming the education systems.

– Area 8.1.2 : Structural changes in the European knowledge economy and society Topic: SSH-2009 – 1.2.1 Growth and service industries

Empirical analysis of service industries in Europe; focus on productivity, internationalisation, etc.; effectiveness of policy instruments

CALL SSH-2009-A

Activity 8.1: Growth, employment and competitiveness in a knowledge society –

the European case

– Area 8.1.3: Strengthening policy coherence and coordination in Europe

• Topic: SSH-2009 – 1.3.1 Public economic policy for growthQuality and effectiveness of public intervention in getting adequate growth (taxation government expenditure, public institution and regulation, etc.); policy options to support the Lisbon Stategy

CALL SSH-2009-A

Activity 8.2: Combining economic, social and environmental objectives in a

European perspective – Paths towards sustainable development

Area 8.2.1: Socio-economic development trajectories

• Topic: SSH-2009 – 2.1.1 New socio-economic concepts, paradigm

shift and territorial dynamics in a long term perspective New models, 2030-2050, energy-transport-environment-land-use, adaptation to global changes

Topic: SSH-2009 – 2.1.3 Impacts of corporate social responsibility

Empirical evidence needed: tools & measurement on CSR impact

at company/sectoral or spatial levels

CALL SSH-2009-A

Activity 8.2: Combining economic, social and environmental objectives in a

European perspective – Paths towards sustainable development

– Area 8.2.2: Regional, territorial and social cohesion

• Topic: SSH-2009 – 2.2.1 Social inequalities, their implications and policyoptionsIncreased or new social inequalities: social, cultural and political impact in the long(er) term

CALL SSH-2009-A

Activity 8.3: Major trends in society and their implications

– Area 8.3.2: Societal trends and lifestyles• Topic: SSH-2009 – 3.2.1 Changes in consumption and consumer

marketsNew trends in consumers' behaviours, social and cultural implications, factors influencing consumers' choice, link to sustainable development.

Topic: SSH-2009 - 3.2.2 Social platform on research for families and family policies

Stock-taking => societal & policy needs + stakeholder participation => future research agenda Topic: SSH-2009 – 3.2.3 Quality of work and impact on quality of life

and economyBetter jobs (Lisbon): negative + positive working trends => synergies possible?

CALL SSH-2009-A

Activity 8.3: Major trends in society and their implications

– Area 8.3.3: Cultural interactions in an international perspective

• Topic: SSH-2009 – 3.3.1 Tolerance and cultural diversitynormative and conceptual approaches;

historical and contemporary exemplars; role of educational systems

• Topic: SSH-2009 – 3.3.2 Religion and secularism across EuropeInteraction of religious and secular values, beliefs, practices and

its consequences for policy formulation

CALL SSH-2009-A

Activity 8.4: Europe and the world

– Area 8.4.1: Interactions and interdependences between world regions and their implications

• Topic: SSH-2009 – 4.1.1 Competition and collaboration in access to oil, gas and mineral resourcesRole of markets, technology, international regulation, etc. in shaping competition and collaboration; link between efficiency, justice and fairness accross generations (time sacle up to newt 20-30 years)

CALL SSH-2009-A

Activity 8.4: Europe and the world (2)

– Area 8.4.2: Conflicts, peace and human rights

• Topic: SSH-2009 – 4.2.2 Perspectives from outside the EU on human rights, democracy and peace

Comparative analysis of what these mean and how they are practiced in different contexts; e.g. perceptions and legal status of human rights, different interactions between democracy and rule of law, different views of just peace…(cooperation with researchers outside Europe is to be enhanced!)

CALL SSH-2009-A

Activity 8.5: The Citizen in the European Union

– Area 8.5.1: Participation and citizenship in Europe

• Topic: SSH-2009 – 5.1.1 Independent media and democracy in Europe

Role of media in formation and consolidation of democracy; governance of media sector; media convergence and concentration; media pluralism and independence

(For collaborative projects and/or BSG-CSO)

CALL SSH-2009-A

Activity 8.5: The Citizen in the European Union (2)– Area 8.5.2: Diversities and commonalities in

Europe• Topic: SSH-2009 – 5.2.1 Vehicular languages in Europe

in an era of globalisation: history, policy, practicehistorical and contemporary instances globally; effects on cultural diversity as well as social and economic effects; power and identity

• Topic: SSH-2009 – 5.2.2 Interrelation between collective representations and uses of history and cultural evolution in an enlarged Europe formation of collective memory; its impact on perceptions of Europe’s past, present and future

• Topic: SSH-2009 – 5.2.3 Culture in the creation of a European space of communicationemergence of new transnational cultural communities in Europe; influence of technology and globalisation

CALL SSH-2009-A

Activity 8.6: Socio-economic and

scientific indicators – Area 8.6.2: Developing better indicators for policy

Topic: SSH-2009 – 6.2.1 Indicators for the European service sectorIndicators research relating to: measurement, productivity, growth in the service sector; including ICT services, ICT intensive services, financial services, wholesale and retail trades, health, social and personal services

– Area 8.6.3: Provision of underlying official statistics

Topic: SSH-2009 – 6.3.1 Data management for statistics

Research into: the combination of electronic surveys, new sampling

techniques, cross linking data, EU level representativity, reduction of response burden and survey costs, methods for handing large datasets.

CALL SSH-2009-A

Activity 8.7: Foresight activities

– Area 8.7.1: Wide socio-economic foresight on key challenges

• Topic: SSH-2009 – 7.1.1 The World and Europe in 2025

• Topic: SSH-2009 – 7.1.2 Foresight on the long term challenges for the Mediterranean area

CALL SSH-2009-B

Activity 8.2 : Combining economic, social and environmental objectives in a

European perspective: paths towards

sustainable development

– Area 8.2.1: Socio-economic development trajectories

• Topic: SSH-2009 – 2.1.2 Cities and sustainable development

CALL SSH-2009-B

Activity 8.4 : Europe and the world

– Area 8.4.2: Conflicts, peace and human rights

• Topic: SSH-2009 – 4.2.1 Climate induced changes in water resources in southern Europe and neighbouring countries as a threat to security

Coordinated with the ENVIRONMENT Research Programme: focus hereis on socio-economic-institutional aspects of mitigation, adaptation, conflict Prevention. Focus in ENV is on regional modelling. (Applicants should see both texts/Calls, and choose where to apply)

CALL SSH-2009-C

Activity 8.3 : Major trends in society and

their implications – Area 8.3.2: Social trends and lifestyles

• Topic: SSH-2009 – 3.2.2 Social platform on research for families and family policies

Activity 8.4 : Europe in the world

– Area 8.4.1: Interactions and interdependences between world regions and their implications

• Topic: SSH-2009 – 4.1.2 Geopolitics and the role of Europe in a changing world

CALL SSH-2009-C

Activity 8.7 : Foresight activities

– Area 8.7.5: Mutual learning and co-operation

• Topic: SSH-2009 – 7.5.1 Consolidating the information system for foresight

Activity 8.8 : Horizontal actions

• Topic: SSH-2009 – 8.1 Measures to support the dissemination of research

results

What is in store after 2009 ?

• Roadmap under discussion with Programme Committe/MS, Expert Advisory Group, all Commission’s services to identify key research challenges to be developed until 2013 and establish the instruments to be used

• This is based on stock-taking of research done in FP6 (reviews at project and programme levels) and its instruments (e.g. workshop and survey promoted by the NoE CONNEX in cooperation with the NoE PRIME and the IP RECON)

• And considering the international dimension (more cooperation with non-European teams, e.g. in ‘Europe in the World’ topics) and policy challenges for the EU

Some features of EU research

• Collaborative Research in FP is not focused on disciplines but on research issues: some issues are researched especially in some disciplines (e.g. electoral behavior by political scientists, labour markets by economists) but may benefit from contributions by other disciplines; also, some relevant study areas (e.g. conflict and peace studies, environmental studies, European studies) are not discipline-based

• This approach is not unique (ECPR itself is not narrowly based on discipines as many sessions demonstrate), but not mainstream either (career and publications structures & incentives still mainly based on disciplines…)

Some myths on EU research

• Power-myths: everything is decided by the Commission, which has hidden agendas and one needs to read between the lines. Specific Programme is co-decision; Calls are the result of Interservice+EAG+Programme Committee. Anyone working on EU decision making processes is aware of the competences AND limits of the Commission…

• Evaluation-myths: an opaque process where proposals are judged with little regard to quality. Evaluation criteria are published; evaluators are anonymous as in most peer review but list of names published yearly in aggregate mode; 3 to 5 evaluators per proposal; Commission officials moderate according to clear codes; independent observers during evaluation; report to MS; redress procedure…

Inputs from the Research Community

• However, on the basis of past and ongoing research, reflection and dialogue take place in the Commission and in the other institutions benefitting from your research results. They can have impact!

• This leads also to ideas for future topics.

Some areas of European reflection• A United Europe?• social sciences research can play an

important role in clarifying how and why we are still divided within the EU, either in terms of perceptions of threats or in our perceptions of trends in development of new technologies.

• - Do we need to identify precisely where EU citizens know little about each other and where there are difficulties in establishing a common dialogue, as well as in confirming which values are truly shared?

Some areas of European reflection (2)• An economically viable Europe? Can we afford the European social model in

the future? We face demographic and integration

challenges. Are we on the road to becoming a knowledge society? Is manufacturing an essential part?

• Open economies: yes, but what about sovereign wealth funds, energy security, “carbon leakage”?

Some areas of European reflection (3) • European defence:

an interesting history going back to the rejection of the CED in the French Parliament.

- initiatives from Presidency, foreseen changes in the Lisbon Treaty.

- relationship to NATO? - does “soft” power inevitably need to be

complemented by a Europe that can “project power”?

Some different ‘faces’ of EU research

• Cooperation: quality is not enough; need collaboration (across countries, institutes..) +policy relevance (while remaining independent of the Institutions)

• Ideas: quality is enough/is the only criterion• Capacities: research itself is not enough;

the research system, its own governance, openess, ethical principles, gender dimension need to be addressed (SiS)

• People: knowledge is not developed by machines but by people (who need machines at times) in a diverse and globalised world

EU research and ECPR

• As for all relations between EU RTD programme and professional associations: cooperation and independence/respect of each other roles

• Many EU-funded research projects present sessions at ECPR (while often not referring to the projects as such…)

• Commission supported some sessions in targeted way (e.g. support for young researchers from new Member States to attend the Pan-European ECPR in Bologna) and sometimes invited (Pisa, Rīga,…)

Research ongovernance, citizenship,conflicts, human rights

Europe in the World• Conflict and peace• Rule of law & human rights• Europe seen from outside• Multilateralism• Climate and security• etc….

The citizen in the EU• Democratic ownership• Citizenship in the EU• Media and democracy• etc.…

For more information:http://ec.europa.eu/research/social-sciences/index_en.html

Thank you for your attention