Rodrigues, Maria João --- "Introduction: For a European Strategy at the Turn of the Century" [2002] ELECD 70; in Rodrigues, João Maria (ed), "The New Knowledge Economy in Europe" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2002)

Book Title: The New Knowledge Economy in Europe

Editor(s): Rodrigues, João Maria

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781840647198

Section: Chapter 1

Section Title: Introduction: For a European Strategy at the Turn of the Century

Author(s): Rodrigues, Maria João

Number of pages: 27

Extract:

1. Introduction: for a European
strategy at the turn of the century
Maria João Rodrigues


At the turn of the century, we must think in the long term. With this endea-
vour, the Presidency of the European Union organised a special interaction
between the scientific and the political agenda. The purpose of this intro-
duction is to reveal how this cross fertilisation was developed, leading to a
new European strategy which aims to build a knowledge-based economy
with more competitiveness and social cohesion. The main political dilem-
mas, the main theoretical issues, the new proposals and, finally, the politi-
cal outcomes will be presented, providing a preliminary framework to
highlight the following chapters.


1. EUROPEAN DILEMMAS

1.1. What scenarios for Europe?

Europe is facing a crucial period in its history. All the main issues of
European civilisation are at stake and very contrasting scenarios are pos-
sible as shown in a wide range of literature (Delors, 1992; Wallace, 1990;
Jacquemin and Wright, 1993; McRae, 1994; Bressard, 1997; Telò, 1998 and
Fitoussi, 1999).
There is a bifurcation in each of the main factors shaping the European
scenarios:

G In the international order, will we have a lasting American leadership
or a more multipolar structure?
G In enlargement, will we have a slower or a faster pace?
G In the institutional reform, will we have a more confederal or a more
federal evolution?
G In the creation of a single currency, will we have more or less cred-
ibility ...