LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS OF THE INNOVATION SYSTEM OF THE EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

Abstract

The Community has had a research and technology policy since its establishment, however, in the first period it was not a typical `system of innovation´ and was characterised by ad hoc political decisions and the incoherence of the institutions. The Community demand on the promotion of the innovation capacity has been entered the primary legislation of the Community by the Single Europe Act. Introducing the rules of research and technology development into the Treaty of Rome, starting the framework programmes and focusing on the technology policy, have been presented the renewal of the post-national institutional building and led to mutual co-operation between the fragmented and ad hoc institutions, the increase of the efficiency of research and production, growth of the cost effectiveness and the competitiveness of the Community. The Sixth Framework Programme outlines the mid-term future directions of the Community technology policy. In order to perform these objectives few priorities must be determined which significantly enhance the competitiveness, have a structuring effect, increase the extent of the co-operation and involve small and medium size enterprises. At the same time, attention is to be given to the global changes and the known and unforeseen impacts of the enlargement of the European Union. On the other hand, the impacts of the developing European system of innovation on the Member States cannot be ignored either. Member States with strong and independent innovation policy are also affected by the impacts of the Community policy. The adjusting of the national priorities to Community priorities, the `reverse institutional borrowing´ and other practices, however, can be seen more intensively in the less developed Member States, and might be especially expected in countries whose accession is under way.