The European Research Area (ERA) aims to create a "unified research area, open to the world... in which researchers, scientific knowledge and technology circulate freely and through which the Union and its member states strengthen… scientific and technological bases.. competitiveness and their capacity to collectively address grand challenges".
Good progress has been made in creating the foundations to ensure the free flow of knowledge. However the report now calls on EU member states to work to better align their national research efforts with those of the EU.
Source: Times Educational Supplement; Europa.eu.