Lisbon Strategy – Catalyst for Reform in the EU and in Croatia

The main goal of the three-year project is to continue the multidisciplinary research of the European integration processes (internal reforms and further institutional development of the European Union, as well as the continuation of the process of Croatia’s integration into the EU). It is based on the presumption that scientific research of conceptual and implementation issues of the Lisbon strategy in an enlarged EU may contribute to the identification of more appropriate ways for meeting the EU economic membership criteria in Croatia and other countries in South Eastern Europe.

The research results are expected to contribute to the exchange of knowledge and experiences on national and international levels as well as to provide policy support for the process of Croatia’s adjustments to the EU. Furthermore, it ensures further education of experts on European integration issues and stimulates networking with similar scientific institutions across Europe, thus giving a new impetus to scientific production in this field and facilitating the preparation of materials for the programmes of European studies in Croatia.

During 2010 the main project activity was the preparation of the book “From Lisbon Strategy to Europe 2020”. The book is published in English with parts also written in Croatian. The book combines works of both Croatian as well as international experts and scholars researching this topic (Višnja Samardžija, Hrvoje Butković, Attila Agh, Mojmir Mrak, Krešimir Jurlin, Igor Vidačak, Siniša Zrinščak, Paul Stubbs, Giorgia Demarchi, Ana-Maria Boromisa, Sanja Tišma, Ivona Ondelj, Helena Čermak, Krševan Antun Dujmović). The timing for publishing of this book was planned having in mind the fact that with 2011 the Lisbon Strategy will be replaced with the new EU strategic framework – Europe 2020 Strategy, which introduces new elements into this program. The book is published with the support of the Delegation of the European Union in Croatia.