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.