European integration has been marked by the major issues and
objectives which it has itself enunciated. These include the
debate over federalism versus nation-state sovereignty; the
debate over politics versus economics; the importance of the
Franco-German motor, of peacekeeping, and how to maintain
economic prosperity, among others. A common market and a common
currency have made of Europe a world-competitive economic zone.
Today, the integration of a common European area for knowledge,
science, and innovation represents the next vital step in the
construction of a political Union. The scientific community is
already doing its share to build a European research area by
setting up pan-European cooperative research organisations,
developing European scientific associations, and participating
in European programs of technological research and development.
This issue of CNRS Thema is a tour of Europe in 100 pages. It
travels beyond the boundaries of EU member states while spanning
three axes of investigation: Eu