Logics of integration and actors' strategies in European joint programs

tThis paper analyses how the interaction between social institutions on the one hand and actors' strate-gies and interests on the other hand is shaping European integration in research policy. We specificallyfocus on the implications of the existence of different conceptions of European integration (logics) onthe emerging landscape of research funding programs jointly managed by the European Union (EU) andNational States (joint programs). Our results display the central role of the introduction of a logic of coor-dination by the EU; it created a breeding ground for a new generation of programs and, at the sametime, allowed to make the integration model more flexible and acceptable to National States (as fundingbecame only virtually integrated). Most newly created programs were characterized by largely symboliccommitments and very small budgets, while stronger commitments had to be constructed through suc-cessive steps of integration. This process was highly selective and dependent on the presence of stronginterests from the research community; additional funding from the EU was critical to ensure stabilityof national commitments. Further, National States by large delegated to independent funding agenciesthe management of national participations: delegation allowed to achieve greater homogeneity amongnational participants, but also to decouple decisions to participate (driven by compliance to institutionalpressures) from the level of resources to be committed (driven by national interests). While in the year2000, the European Research Area (ERA) strategy of coordinating national research policies was largelyan empty concept, our case study shows how in the following decade, it was filled in with specific expe-riences and practices, led to the redefinition of actors' understanding of European integration and rolesin European research policies and, ultimately, to the emergence of original models of integration.