Project description
Advancing open strategic autonomy in the EU
There is a growing call from EU institutions, practitioners and national decision-makers for greater clarity and practical guidance on achieving open strategic autonomy (OSA) in the EU. The EU-funded QUEST project responds to this need. OSA represents a paradigm shift in how the EU defines its global role, balancing openness with autonomy. Achieving this balance requires navigating complex dilemmas and trade-offs in international relations while upholding EU values and principles. To date, neither academic research nor policy advice has provided answers on managing these tensions. QUEST addresses this gap by developing a conceptual framework highlighting multiple ways OSA can be understood and enacted. Moving beyond existing approaches, it conceptualises OSA through political capabilities and institutional competences, offering conceptual clarity and practical guidance.
Objective
QUEST - “The European Union’s Quest for a Relational Open Strategic Autonomy” tackles one of the most pressing strategic questions facing the EU today: what Open Strategic Autonomy (OSA) is, what it entails, and what is required to achieve it. At its core, QUEST asks: How can the EU achieve open strategic autonomy?
By addressing this overarching question, QUEST responds directly to the demand from EU institutions, practitioners, and national decision-makers for conceptual clarity and practical guidance. OSA represents a potential paradigm shift in how the EU defines its role in the world, balances openness and autonomy, and upholds its foundational norms and values. Yet pursuing OSA in practice inevitably forces the Union to navigate dilemmas and contradictions—both in its dealings with international partners and in the defence of its own principles. To date, neither academic research nor policy advice has provided systematic answers on how to manage these tensions.
QUEST fills this critical gap by developing an innovative conceptual framework, which directs attention to the different ways in which OSA may be understood and practiced. Moving beyond existing approaches, QUEST sees OSA as intrinsically linked to political capabilities and competences. It underlines that for open strategic autonomy to be realised, the EU has to reconsider its relations to others. QUEST identifies key drivers of OSA and generates robust empirical evidence across six strategically important policy domains, including economic and research security. It clarifies how a novel approach to OSA would enhance the EU’s capacity to protect its economic and security interests while also recognising the rights and autonomy of others, thus contributing to a more secure and just world.
Taking facts on the ground into account, QUEST delivers clear, evidence-based guidance to EU institutions and policymakers on how OSA can be realised—transforming an ambiguous concept into an actionable strategy.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.2 - Culture, creativity and inclusive society
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.2.1 - Democracy and Governance
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL2-2025-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
3000 Leuven
Belgium
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.