Exploring how neighbouring economies interact with the EU Integration between the EU and European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries could be strengthened by concentrating on the potential of the European research neighbourhood. An EU initiative set out to do just that. Industrial Technologies © Thinkstock New research on economic cooperation between Member States and ENP countries can enhance understanding of the institutional framework conditions of such countries and their economic dealings with the EU concerning people, capital, trade, knowledge and innovation. Thanks to EU funding, the SEARCH (Sharing knowledge assets: Interregionally cohesive neighborhoods) project focused on research and policy issues by analysing the interaction of goods, capital, people and knowledge flows. Work started by examining economic and social effects of EU enlargement and the ENP since implementation began in 2004. Researchers reviewed ENP concerning its objectives and policy measures over time, and developed a conceptual framework for the impact assessment of integration on new Member States and ENP countries. Project partners studied economic interaction patterns between the EU and ENP countries to forecast possible trends and identify effects of economic integration on their growth, competitiveness and cohesion prospects. They elaborated policy implications from research on the future impact of strengthening innovation diffusion and knowledge flows in Member States and in the 16 European neighbouring countries as well as on the assessment of instruments for supporting future integration and cohesion through innovation diffusion. The SEARCH team examined the current status of the social, cultural and institutional environment in ENP countries. It also identified the effects of existing changes on the prospects for enhanced economic development, social cohesion and stronger integration with the EU. Lastly, a guide was delivered to present the main policy findings based on research gathered from over 100 working papers, 17 policy briefs, and overall results that have been published and disseminated in academic journals and at workshops and conferences. SEARCH led to a better understanding of the conditions that characterise the institutional framework of ENP countries and their economic interactions with the EU. It also enhanced the implementation of the ENP by proposing potential EU policy options and analysing policy recommendations. Keywords European Neighbourhood Policy, innovation, knowledge assets, knowledge flows, economic integration
