Turning Gaps into Niches. For a new innovation paradigm in Central Europe.

Paweł Zerka (ed.)

Innovation has become one of the words of the moment in the European politics. However, the countries of Central Europe, which are still lagging behind Western Europe in their innovative performance, are not very active in the current debates. Given the trasformation of the global economic order as well as ongoing works on European initiatives (e.g. Research & Innovation Plan), Central Europe should start treating innovation seriously. Not only because without innovation we will not be able to maintain our  current rate of growth in the long run, but also because we have to adapt to a new European landscape, with the development of the European Research Area and introduction of the Community Patent in the coming years. What exactly should the countries of Central Europe do? In a new report by demosEUROPA-Centre for European Strategy and Ernst&Young "Better Government" programme we explain what the change in their 'innovation paradigm' should consist in.
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How to efficiently implement CCS in Poland?
Financial framework

Edited by Agata Hinc

The report argues that we stand at the threshold of a transformation to a global economy, an economy that will meet the social, economic and political challenges which have been identified as the main threats to the global order in the 21st century. Its elements will make us re-think and re-establish the way we produce and distribute energy and new solutions will have to be found to ensure both sustainable development and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. As it is possible to imagine substantial CO2 emissions reduction without nuclear energy, it is also impossible to do so without Carbon Capture and Storage. Economic analysis shows that successful rollout of this technology will require active support from governments and international organizations. The success of CCS will not be defined by its reception from the market, but rather through political will and government policies. In the short term, the financing of CCS will also require government intervention. We should not underestimate the costs of those decisions, but we should not let the costs determine the direction of energy and climate policy.
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Heading for the Strategic Partnership EU-Turkey in the Foreign Policy

Adam Balcer

Strategic partnership between the European Union and Turkey would significantly increase the effectiveness of the Common Foreign and Security Policy - says Adam Balcer, Senior Fellow and "EU enlargement and neighborhood" Project Leader, in the most recent report published by demosEUROPA-Center for European Strategy. Thanks to such a partnership, the process of Turkish accession into the EU would not lose its momentum. Why then the EU has not yet engaged in a strategic cooperation with Turkey?
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How to efficiently implement CCS in Poland?

Agata Hinc

In the coming decades the world will still depend on fossil fuels. This is why, in order to quickly reduce CO2 emissions, we will have to make use of clean coal technologies. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) will have a key role to play here. In the opinion of the International Energy Agency, CCS can in the long run bring up to a 100% reduction of the CO2 produced during the coal burning process in power plants. The report puts forward several reccommendations for a safe and efficient implementation of CCS in Poland.
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