EU technology programmes and the British policy process : the development of the British actor strategies to influence the EU's Framework Programme

This thesis examines the impact of the European Union (EU) Research and Technological Development Framework Programmes (FPs) on the British policy process. The thesis commences by outlining the theoretical options available to guide empirical research in the field, engaging in a discussion oh the utility of International Relations versus public policy approaches. The history and development of both EU and UK technology policies are then examined, utilising mainly secondary sources. The nature of the institutional units affected by the development of an EU competence in the area are also assessed. The remainder of the thesis is dedicated to examining the factors surrounding the formation and execution of British actor strategies to influence the creation of the EU’s Fifth Framework Programme. This section utilises a modified version of the policy networks approach for mapping actor relationships. The adaptations include a strong institutional emphasis and a focus on actor perceptions of relative values rather than a rationalist fact-based analysis. The majority of the research for this section was conducted through interviews with the key policy actors at both the UK and EU-levels. The key findings of the research indicate that whilst there was a degree of Europeanisation of the UK policy network, the UK core-executive - as represented by the Office of Science and Technology (OST) - established a dominant position at its centre. In fact the OST was at the head of a powerful UK policy community also consisting of the UK government departments and Research Councils. This stands in direct contrast to the OST’s relatively weak position within domestic RTD programmes. A range of factors that serve to restrict the movement of UK actors to lobby at the European level were also uncovered. These include a powerful treasury financing system unique to the UK and UK actors’ perceptions of the low utility of EU institutions in relation to influencing the policy process during the main stages of the overall FP negotiations.