Research Area EURO - European Developments: Policy & Politics

The EURO Programme builds on activities undertaken by the different research departments of the ICCR. Its task is to synthesise information of public interest deriving from specific policy-focused findings. The EURO programme works on the meta-level of generalising the findings of policy studies in specific areas carried out by the Centre’s thematic research departments.

Policy questions of specific interest to the EURO programme are

• the process of EU enlargement;
• the creation of a European polity,
• studies of democracy,
• the European public service
• and public participation in decision-making.

Another important function of the EURO programme is dissemination. The general orientation of the Centre with regard to dissemination is to promote a useful and substantial science-policy interaction which does not impair the former’s autonomy and critical outlook. This we do by setting up policy think-tanks and by linking these to academic networks or associations.

Central to this type of science-policy interaction is the consolidation of expertise and knowledge across disciplinary boundaries. In order to promote this, the ICCR ACADEMY, part of the EURO programme, organises regular seminars and lectures for ICCR staff and external participants on social and political theory, economics, methodology and public policy analysis.

The EURO programme is in charge of the Centre’s publications other than research reports, namely,

• The quarterly journal INNOVATION – The European Journal of Social Sciences
• The ICCR book series Contemporary Trends in European Social Sciences
• The ICCR Working Papers Series
• The ICCR Rapid Report Series