New horizons in European security and defence research
Faced with numerous common external threats, since the early years of this millennium, Member States have been increasingly steering a common course on security and defence. The Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) sought to make the EU a 'credible and effective actor' in ensuring global security. Internally, the Union has a number of counter-terrorism policies to protect citizens against these violent acts. In order to complement these policies with knowledge, security and defence have become research themes in the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). Given how fresh this research priority is, it has not yet become fully integrated into the ERA. Financed by the EU, the project 'The future impact of security and defence policies on the European Research Area' (SANDERA) aimed to find ways to build and develop the security-related ERA. SANDERA successfully identified, through desk-based research and interviews with dozens of stakeholders, drivers of change in the relationship between security and defence policies and the ERA. It also developed a model of the complex interrelationships between the ERA and security and defence research and development (R&D) policies – i.e. how policies influence research and vice versa. The forward-looking research carried out by SANDERA will be of value to both the policymaking and research communities in their efforts to formulate sound security and defence policies. It will also help to identify priorities for the forthcoming Horizon 2020 programme, FP7's successor.