European Scientific and Technical Responses to the Challenge of Sustaining Global Commons

In a globalized knowledge-economy, the European Union (EU) needs a new approach to its international science and technology (S&T) policies by focusing on improved coherence across the different tiers of government and by demonstrating leadership in tackling serious global challenges. The contributors to this book analyze European S&T policies in several areas of global concern as well as by exposing both the pitfalls of policy coordination and its potential to contribute to a more coherent international S&T policy. They highlight the interactions between national, European and international policies, and explore how a common European policy for international S&T cooperation could work, and under which conditions. The book concludes that an EU external S&T policy is more likely to emerge if member states and the European Commission focus on a limited number of strategic priorities where Europe really can make a difference.