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Background
Beyond the Lisbon Strategy
The objectives of the Lisbon Strategy were not achieved by the EU Member States. In particular, the objective of reaching 3% of the GDP for R&D until 2010 could not be successfully implemented due to the extension of the EU in 2004 and the massive economic crisis/depression after 2008. The Ljubljana Process and the associated "Vision 2020" published in December 2008 are already aiming clearly beyond the Lisbon Strategy.
The Vision 2020 promotes a stronger interaction within the "knowledge triangle" (education, research and innovation), supported by the "Fifth Freedom" of the EU, i.e. free circulation of researchers, knowledge and technology. With the support of a European cohesion policy, the ERA shall enable Europe to speak with one consistent voice in international fora and to its main international partners to better compete with Asia and the US.
Especially the aspect of coordination within the Vision 2020 is in accordance with the Treaty of Lisbon that has become operative on December 1, 2009. The treaty declares the promotion of research as an autonomous objective of the EU, it establishes the ERA as a subject of the treaty and commissions the Framework Programmes to implement the ERA. These changes are regarded as a step to improve the coordination between the EU Member States and to contribute even stronger to the idea of innovation and to the concept of research dedicated to the great economical and social challenges. These principles will be characterising for the instruments of "Horizon 2020- the framework programme for research and innovation" which becomes operative on January 1, 2014 and which will be passed jointly by the EU Member States in the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament.
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