Defining European research policy and implementing European research programmes is foremost a legal and political obligation resulting from the EU Treaty, which includes a whole chapter on research and technological development (RTD). It underlines that RTD is an essential element in the functioning of EU Member States. The competitiveness of companies and the employment they can provide depend to a great extent on RTD, which is also essential for the support of other policies such as consumer health or the protection of the environment. Without determined actions at European level the present dispersion of Europe's research efforts cannot be overcome.
The European Union’s activities in RTD can be roughly divided along two main axes:
- European Research Policy, which includes the definition of priorities at European level and measures to increase the competitiveness of Europe.
- EU Research Programmes are the main measures foreseen by the Treaty to support collaboration amongst scientists from universities, research centres and private companies, stimulate the transfer of knowledge and research results, encourage the training and mobility of researchers across Europe, and promote the scientific and technical cooperation with third countries.