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The paper attempts to propose a theoretical frame needed to sustain innovation processes in the enlarged European Union. Sustainable innovation processes are seen in the paper as the main driver of competitiveness (and therefore productivity) in the European Union, as called for by the Lisbon Strategy in 2000. Actionable policy and business strategy implications of the proposed theoretical frame are also outlined using a knowledge management perspective. They center on the cluster method of modern development as proposed by Harvard's Prof. M. Porter. Suggestions for further and related research are also included in the paper. ; Straipsnyje siūlomi teoriniai rėmai, reikalingi palaikyti tolygių inovacijų procesus išplėstoje Europos Sąjungoje. Argumentuojama, kad šie procesai yra pagrindinis konkurencingumo (ir produktyvumo) variklis Europos Sąjungoje, o to siekiama Lisabonos strategijoje, paskelbtoje 2000 m. Žvelgiant iš žinių vadybos perspektyvos, čia nurodomos ir praktinės siūlomų teorinių rėmų implikacijos ekonominei politikai bei verslo strategijai. Jos koncentruojasi apie "klasterinį" modernaus vystymosi kelią, kaip siūlo Harvardo universiteto prof. M. Porter. Straipsnyje nurodomi būdai, kuriais klasteriai pagerina konkurencingumą ir produktyvumą: 1) per geresnį prieinamumą prie specializuotų tiekėjų, kvalifikacijų ir žinių; 2) per tolygesnius inovacijų procesus, nes klasteriuose labiau išryškėja poreikis tobulinti gamybinius procesus bei juose bendradarbiaujančios firmos ši poreiki gali patenkinti geriau; 3) per "inkubatoriaus efektą", kai klasteryje kvazibiologiniu būdu yra kuriamos naujos firmos. Straipsnyje taip pat siūlomos tolesnių ir giminingų tyrimų kryptys.

Purpose: The role of entrants and exits has enlarged indisputably over recent years. The basic explanation is connected to the deepening of innovation's influence on industrial growth. Furthermore, new businesses have to be more effective, and based on products, technological or organizational innovations, and exits have to be ineffective (respectively unprofitable), based on denoted products or technology. Design/methodology/approach: According to the above-mentioned prerequisites, policymakers need to manage the role (respectively the impact) that entrants (new start-up companies) and exits play in industrial growth. Nevertheless, this impact is not a cornerstone of the Bulgarian National Strategy, or the Europe 2020 Strategy. Findings: The paper tries to answer the following two questions: 1) Do new start-up companies and exits have any role and influence on economic growth in Bulgaria?, and 2) Does the role (respectively the impact) of entrants and exits in industrial growth change according to economic cycle? Research limitations/implications: In addition, according to the Lisbon Strategy, as well as the European Union's (EU) Strategy 2020, the current economic policy supports entrepreneurship and innovations. Thus, the establishment of innovative companies, as well as the development of innovative, incumbent business are core issues of EU economic policy for the past decade. Originality/value: The paper builds on the industrial dynamic methodology and on the understanding of how business decisions (entrepreneurship, innovations, and R&D) on micro level correspond to macro level (GDP growth and innovation policy).

Purpose: The purpose of the article is a comparative analysis of the potentials of European Union (EU) capitals in the formulation and implementation of logistics strategies using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) multiple criteria decision making method. Approach/Methodology/Design: To compare the results obtained by capital cities in EU countries the multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) method – AHP was used. The basis of empirical research are the indicators used by the European Commission in Eurostat, including survey data on Urban Audit. Findings: As a result, cities were ranked based on their potential to formulate and implemente logistics strategies. Eight groups of cities with similar results emerged in the ranking. Helsinki had the highest potential while the weakest one is Athens. Research shows that cities that belong to countries that are so-called EU "old members" have higher potential in formulating and implementing logistics strategies than cities that belong to the so-called groups of "new members" of the EU. The exceptions are Athens and Lisbon. Practical Implications: The AHP method presented can significantly help local governments to formulate a logistics strategy. This method makes it possible to carry out a comparative analysis of the potentials of cities that influence logistic strategic decisions. As a result, it is possible to determine the position of a given city in comparison to others and indicate in which areas or in relation to which criteria a given city is better and which is worse. In addition, this method can be used to set priorities for urban logistics projects planned to be implemented and what is important can be done in groups. Originality/Value: The paper develops a group of criteria, which assist in analyzing the potential of the city in terms of logistics strategy formulation and implementation and in studying the results obtained with the use of multiple criteria decision making method AHP. ; peer-reviewed

During the EU accession process, an intensive process of economic restructuring was taking place in Slovenia that was intended to secure Slovenia's incorporation into the common European market. At the time of adapting the legal and economic order to European standards, everyone was aware of the fact that successful EU spatial integration depends on the achieved economic power that is comparable to the average EU-27 economic growth. Slovenia's economic structure, determined by the GDP structure, is slowly approaching the structure of developed economies with the importance of agriculture and manufacture decreasing, and the importance of services increasing. However, financial and busines services, and technologically demanding sectors are growing too slowly. Structural changes of the Slovene economy have an affect on transformation of geographical space and create a new social-economic gravitational region. Functional and structural economic changes that resulted from social and political changes following Slovenia's newly-gained independence and its transition to market economy have changed the role of Slovenia in the common European economic market. Slovenia is to be found on a key development crossing, moving from an industrial to post industrial society. Slovenia's basic development goal is to exceed the average economic development of the enlarged EU by 2015 to be able to secure and improve social security, faster development in all its regions, and improve the environment. In other words strive for a better quality of life and overall human development.

The Treaty of Lisbon (2009) highlighted the importance of territorial cohesion for European Union`s (EU) integration process. Within this process, the macro-regions play a key role as an alternative option to the mainstream integration tools. They are groupings of adjacent countries or regions of countries which share a common natural landmark and act together to improve the conditions of their respective area. They don`t require the involvement of all EU member states but only those that share a given region. In these groupings may also participate countries which are neighbouring to the EU but are not EU members. The goal of the members of a macro-region is to respond jointly to common regional challenges. The EU Strategy for Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR), concerns all the Adriatic and Ionian coastal countries, plus Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. This thesis investigates what is the contribution of EUSAIR in regional peace and development. At the same time, it explores its goals and implementation, in terms of sustainability, conflict prevention and conflict resolution. Subsequently this thesis examines the problems and the challenges that EUSAIR might face and how those could be addressed through the policies that the strategy applies in the region. The thesis' findings prove that EUSAIR is not only possible but also a necessity for the region, as it promotes territorial cohesion through interregional, cross-border and transnational cooperation even among countries which until recently have been fighting against each other. The strategy seeks to improve multi-level, multi-sector and international cooperation on issues of common concern, such as water quality, fisheries, transport, culture, tourism etc. Inevitably, it confronts with the chronic problems and perils of the region such as territorial and sea-border disputes, nationalism and structural administrative difficulties. ; ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL……………………………………………….i DECLARATION…………………………………………………………………….ii YAYIMLAMA VE FİKRİ MÜLKİYET HAKLARI BEYANI.iii ETİK BEYAN.iv AKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………………………………………v ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS……………………………………………………….ix PREABMLE……………………………………………………………………….1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION……………………….……….……….4 1.1 Brief Flashback on EU Integration History………………….….4 1.2 Thesis` Theoretical Framework and Literature Review.…….6 1.3 Thesis` Contribution and Methodology…………………….….16 CHAPTER 2: THE EVOLUTION OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION…………19 2.1 The European Integration Theoretical Background………….19 2.2 EU Integration Challenges…………………………….……………24 2.3 Introduction to the EU`s Territorial Policies…………………….28 2.4 Regional Economic Integration……………………………………36 CHAPTER 3: EU MACRO-REGIONS AND MACRO-REGIONAL STRATEGIES………………………………………………………………………41 3.1 EU Macro-regional Strategies and Macro-regions.42 CHAPTER 4: THE HISTORY, STRUCTURE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE EU STRATEGY FOR THE ADRIATIC – IONIAN REGION (EUSAIR)….….51 4.1 Historical Background……………………………………………….51 4.2 Objectives, Scopes, Pillars and Fields of Action of EUSAIR.58 4.3 Instruments, Stakeholders, Partnerships and Networks of the EUSAIR………………………………………….……………………….…65 CHAPTER 5: EUSAIR`s CONTRIBUTION IN REGIONAL PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT AND THE CHALLENGES AHEAD………….…………….72 5.1 Fostering Interstate, Interregional and Inter-Sectoral Cooperation……………………………………………………………….73 5.2 EUSAIR`s Contribution in Regional Development…………….77 5.3 Deepening Cooperation and Sense of Common Belonging.81 5.4 Risks and Challenges.85 5.5 The International Players.87 5.6 Regional International Relations ….……….…………………….92 5.7 Practical Issues and Technicalities .……….….………….95 CONCLUSIVE EPILOGUE……………………………………………………….100 REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………….112 APPENDIX 1 – Originality Report………………………………………………115 APPENDIX 2 – Ethics Commission Waiver Report Form………………….117 ; The Treaty of Lisbon (2009) highlighted the importance of territorial cohesion for European Union`s (EU) integration process. Within this process, the macro-regions play a key role as an alternative option to the mainstream integration tools. They are groupings of adjacent countries or regions of countries which share a common natural landmark and act together to improve the conditions of their respective area. They don`t require the involvement of all EU member states but only those that share a given region. In these groupings may also participate countries which are neighbouring to the EU but are not EU members. The goal of the members of a macro-region is to respond jointly to common regional challenges. The EU Strategy for Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR), concerns all the Adriatic and Ionian coastal countries, plus Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. This thesis investigates what is the contribution of EUSAIR in regional peace and development. At the same time, it explores its goals and implementation, in terms of sustainability, conflict prevention and conflict resolution. Subsequently this thesis examines the problems and the challenges that EUSAIR might face and how those could be addressed through the policies that the strategy applies in the region. The thesis' findings prove that EUSAIR is not only possible but also a necessity for the region, as it promotes territorial cohesion through interregional, cross-border and transnational cooperation even among countries which until recently have been fighting against each other. The strategy seeks to improve multi-level, multi-sector and international cooperation on issues of common concern, such as water quality, fisheries, transport, culture, tourism etc. Inevitably, it confronts with the chronic problems and perils of the region such as territorial and sea-border disputes, nationalism and structural administrative difficulties.

Die EU hat sich mit der Lissabon-Strategie bis 2010 ehrgeizige Ziele gesetzt. Die Union soll zum wettbewerbsfähigsten Wirtschaftsraum der Welt, der am schnellsten wächst und auch die hohen Sozialstandards beibehält, werden. Zusätzlich sollte die Wirtschaftsentwicklung auch umweltschonend, also nachhaltig sein. Zum einen steuert die Union zu viele Ziele auf einmal an, zum anderen widersprechen sie sich teilweise. Zudem ist bereits zur Halbzeit abzusehen, dass die hochgesteckten Ziele nicht erreicht werden können. In ihrer Strategie zum "Neustart der Lissabon-Strategie" konzentriert sich der Europäischen Kommission daher nur auf zwei Hauptziele, auf "Wachstum" und "Beschäftigung". Internationale Wettbewerbsfähigkeit ist ohnehin ein sehr dehnbarer Begriff ohne konkreten Inhalt. Trotz des allerorten vorgebrachten Pessimismus - wegen der Nichterfüllung der Lissabon-Ziele für die EU insgesamt muss man doch feststellten, dass aggregierte Vergleiche EU-USA nicht immer sinnvoll sind. Der Durchschnitt der EU trügt in den meisten Fällen. Die EU ist sehr heterogen aus Ländern zusammengesetzt, von denen vor allem viele Kleinstaaten eine bessere Performance aufweisen als die USA, während die schlechte Bilanz einiger großer Länder den Durchschnitt drückt. Insgesamt ist die EU aber auf dem richtigen Weg, eine wirtschaftliche Großmacht zu werden, eine "soft power" ist sie ohnehin schon. @With the Lisbon agenda the European Union has given itself a very ambitious goal until 2010. The Union should become the most competitive economic area in the world with the fastest growth und should also keep its high social standards. In addition the economic development should care for the environment and hence be sustainable. On the one hand, the Union targets too many goals at once; on the other hand the goals are partly incompatible with each other. Already the mid-term review shows that the ambitious goals will not be attainable. In its "New start for the Lisbon Strategy" the European Commission proposes to concentrate only on two goals - "growth" and "jobs". The notion international competitiveness is vague and without significant substance. In spite of the widely uttered pessimism that the Lisbon goals will not be attainable for the EU in total, one must, however, confess that an aggregate comparison EU-USA is not always meaningful. The EU average masks often. The EU is rather heterogeneous composed of countries, of which many small countries in particular perform better than the USA. The bad performance of other - mostly large EU member states - depress the EU average statistically. All in all the Union is on the right track to become an economic superpower; she is already a "soft power".

In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden die Perspektiven der Gemeinsamen Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik (GASP) der Europäischen Union untersucht. Den Ausgangspunkt der Untersuchung stellt die im Dezember 2003 vom Europäischen Rat angenommene Europäische Sicherheitsstrategie (ESS) dar. In diesem Dokument definiert die Union erstmals ihre allgemeinen außen- und sicherheitspolitischen Ziele. Aus dem Papier ergeben sich einige für die EU bedeutsame Fragen hinsichtlich der Ausgestaltung der GASP, aber auch in Bezug auf weitere Neuaufnahmen. Die ESS zieht eine Grenze zwischen EU-Staaten und Nichtmitgliedern. In einem ersten Schritt wird daher untersucht, in welcher Form sich aus der ESS Kriterien zur Begrenzung der Mitgliederzahl ableiten lassen. Im Anschluss daran werden die außen- und sicherheitspolitischen Ziele ausgewählter Staaten und der Europäischen Kommission sowie deren Einstellung zu weiteren Neuaufnahmen analysiert. Im derzeitigen Beitrittsprozess spielt die Türkei aufgrund ihrer Größe, ihrer Bevölkerungszahl und ihrer Wirtschaftskraft eine besondere Rolle. Es wird daher eine Analyse des Beitrittsgesuchs unter außen- und sicherheitspolitischen Kriterien vorgenommen. Im zweiten Teil der Arbeit wird zunächst die allgemeine Entwicklung der GASP und der Europäischen Nachbarschaftspolitik (ENP) untersucht. Im Blickpunkt steht hierbei insbesondere die Frage, ob die Union durch die Osterweiterung 2004 in ihrer außenpolitischen Handlungsfähigkeit eingeschränkt worden ist. Im Anschluss daran werden die Beziehungen zwischen der EU und den Vereinigten Staaten, der NATO und Russland untersucht. Die Beziehungen zu den USA sind im Bereich der Sicherheitspolitik für die Union von großer Bedeutung. Zudem haben die USA durch ihre Funktion als Schutzmacht der mittel- und osteuropäischen Staaten einen erheblichen Einfluss in Europa. Die Kooperation mit der NATO ist für die Union unerlässlich, da sie auf die NATO zur Durchführung von Einsätzen im Rahmen des Krisenmanagements angewiesen ist. Die Beziehungen zu Russland schließlich sind aufgrund der russischen Exklave Kaliningrad, aber auch durch aufgrund der Abhängigkeit von russischen Energielieferungen von besonderer Bedeutung. Abschließend wird anhand der Verträge von Nizza und Lissabon untersucht, in welcher Form sich flexible Handlungsformate einrichten lassen. Die Entscheidungsfindung der Union wird mit steigender Mitgliederzahl schwieriger. Es ist daher notwendig Verfahren zu entwickeln, bei denen alle Staaten eingebunden sind, aber gleichzeitig flexibel agiert werden kann, ohne dass ein Staat mit dem Aufwand administrativ überfordert wird. ; The importance of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) of the European Union (EU) has increased permanently since its establishment. Through the adoption of the European Security Strategy (ESS) in 2003, the EU has defined its general goals in the field of foreign and security policy. The ESS raises a number of important questions for the Union not only in the field of CFSP. The ESS distinguishes between member states and non-member states and consequently, raises the question of the final number of member states. In a first step this study analyses the possibilities of deriving compulsory criteria from the ESS due to the limit number of member states. Furthermore, it examines the goals of the foreign and security policy of chosen member states. As the member states decide on wether new states can join the Union, an additional analysis regarding the position of these states and of the European Commission towards further enlargements has been made. The question of the accession of Turkey is in several ways problematic for the EU. The membership of Turkey could be a precedent due to its geographical position. But this question imposes not only on this dimension a knock-on effect for other states seeking membership. Of all the membership-seeking states, Turkey is the largest state with the greatest population and biggest economic strength. Against that background, the question of accession of Turkey is examined unter the guidelines of the ESS from the perspective of the overall CFSP. Another question arising from the ESS concerns the organisation of the CFSP to reach the formulated goals. In this context, an overview of the CFSP and the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) is given. The main aspect of this part is the question wether the enlargement of 2004 had an influence on the Unions ability to act. An additional relevant aspect concerns the relationship between the Union and other international players. The relations with the United States, the NATO and Russia are particularly important for the CFSP. After the analysis of the international relations of the Union, proposals of the CFSP are developed. The main focus lies on the involvement of all states with regard to decisionmaking while at the same time maintaining the Union s ability to act.

Cover -- Table of Contents -- Overview -- 0.1 Introduction -- 0.2 The Multidimensional Character of Sustainability -- 0.3 The Unsustainable Industrial State -- 0.4 Globalization -- 0.5 Drivers of Economic Growth and Development -- 0.5.1 Strategies to Enhance Competitiveness -- 0.5.2 The Consequences of Different Industrial Strategy Options for Workers -- 0.6 Conceptualizations of Sustainable Development -- 0.6.1 The Interrelatedness of the Economy, of the Environment, Health, and Safety, and of Employment and the Need to Address Them Together -- 0.6.2 Sustaining and Disrupting Innovation Distinguished -- 0.6.3 A Capsule Definition of Sustainable Development -- 0.7 Governance Options for Achieving a Transformation to a More Sustainable State -- 0.8 The Role of Government -- 0.9 The Way Forward -- 0.10 References -- Part I: The Multidimensional Concept of Sustainability -- 1 Concern for a Global Future -- 1.1 Human Needs -- 1.2 Social Justice, Inequality, and the Social Contract between the Governed and the Government -- 1.3 Living beyond Our Ecological Means: The Technology Debate -- 1.4 A Conceptual Framework for Sustainable Development -- 1.5 The European Union's Strategy for Sustainable Development: The Lisbon Strategy and Europe 2020 -- 1.6 The Reformulation of Sustainable Development as a Problem of Global Climate Change -- 1.7 Broadening Our Awareness of Tipping Points -- 1.8 The 2008 Financial Crisis and Opportunities for Reconceptualization of the Growth Paradigm -- 1.9 The Necessity of Solving Problems on a Comprehensive Basis -- 1.10 Notes -- 1.11 Additional Readings -- 1.12 References -- 2 The Emergence of Sustainable Development -- 2.1 Notes -- 2.2 Additional Readings -- 2.3 References -- Part II: Economic Development, Globalization, and Sustainability -- 3 Economic Development and Prosperity: Current Theory and Debate.

The article entitled "The implementation of economic innovation processes in the Polish economy within the European Union" focuses on the determinants of the socio-economic development of the country, which is economic innovation. It resulted in numerous civilizational changes in the Polish national economy, especially after Poland's accession to the European Union. It turned out that it belongs to those factors which in recent years have marked the development path of our country. Hence, after identifying its concept, an attempt was made to recognize the impact of the processes which constitute it on economic competitiveness and to assess the effects of economic innovation on socio-economic changes in the country. As a result of this decision, numerous civilizational changes took place in the Polish national economy. The issue of innovation has been part of the group which in recent years has marked the development path of our country. Poland has joined the process of implementing a common strategy for supporting innovation and competitiveness. Its principles were laid down in the "Lisbon Strategy" for the first decade of the 21st century and for the Europe 2020 strategy for 2010-2020. Taking into account the problem of economic innovativeness in the context of the title of the target article, it becomes closer to its essence by identifying its concept, recognizing the impact of its processes on economic competitiveness, and assessing the effects of economic innovations on socio-economic changes in the country during the period of Poland's integration with the Union European.

Education policy, traditionally a fortress of state-building processes, is now being challenged by the emergence of a new dimension at the European level. The Lisbon Strategy of 2000 has not only redefined education as a tool for improving Europe's competitiveness within the knowledge economy, but it has also significantly expanded the role of the European Commission as a legitimate actor intervening in education. Although the increasing involvement of the EU in education has been empirically covered by the existing literature, less attention has been devoted to elucidating these changes from a theoretical point of view. This article contends that these transformations raise a theoretical puzzle in terms of the understanding of the two mainstream theories of European integration. This argument is developed in three steps. First, the article examines the historical developments of EU competences in education. It then critically engages with the main theoretical explanations of European integration theories in relation to these changes, namely supranationalism and liberal intergovernmentalism, asserting that these approaches do not fully account for a comprehensive explanation of the drivers behind these transformations. By contrast, the article suggests that broadening the analytical lens to include a more ideas-centred approach provides a more in-depth understanding of European education policy.

Education policy, traditionally a fortress of state-building processes, is now being challenged by the emergence of a new dimension at the European level. The Lisbon Strategy of 2000 has not only redefined education as a tool for improving Europe's competitiveness within the knowledge economy, but it has also significantly expanded the role of the European Commission as a legitimate actor intervening in education. Although the increasing involvement of the EU in education has been empirically covered by the existing literature, less attention has been devoted to elucidating these changes from a theoretical point of view. This article contends that these transformations raise a theoretical puzzle in terms of the understanding of the two mainstream theories of European integration. This argument is developed in three steps. First, the article examines the historical developments of EU competences in education. It then critically engages with the main theoretical explanations of European integration theories in relation to these changes, namely supranationalism and liberal intergovernmentalism, asserting that these approaches do not fully account for a comprehensive explanation of the drivers behind these transformations. By contrast, the article suggests that broadening the analytical lens to include a more ideas-centred approach provides a more in-depth understanding of European education policy.

The European Union's Lisbon strategy goal of tackling poverty was a notable failure, while the Europe 2020 strategy's poverty target is out of reach. Both strategies were based on variants of the 'at risk of poverty' indicator, which has an inappropriate and misleading name. We demonstrate theoretically and empirically by cross-section, time series and panel cointegration evidence, that the 'at risk of poverty' indicator essentially measures income inequality, not poverty. Our calculations show that even after taking into account the positive impact that expected economic growth should have on material deprivation and low work intensity, the Gini coefficient of income inequality would have to fall by 3.5 points in each EU country if the Europe 2020 poverty target is to be reached, which is implausible. Huge differences between national poverty thresholds make the EU-wide poverty aggregate pointless. We approximate the EU-wide distribution of income and use it calculate EU-wide poverty indicators. The political agreement between EU member states expressed the goal of reducing poverty, not inequality. There are good reasons to aim for lower income inequality, but a political agreement would be needed to set an inequality goal and corresponding policies.

Entrepreneurship, as one of today's most relevant competences, is widely discussed in the public space. Conditional novelty and popularity of the phenomenon is intriguing and engaging. Discussions regarding the content of the concept of entrepreneurship are carried out regularly at different levels, despite the fact that the definition of the said phenomenon is provided in general documents of the European Union. In the last decade, according to various laws and regulations, as well as scientific publications, entrepreneurship is considered as "general competence or competence relevant to all citizens of the rapidly developing countries and related to creativity, ingenuity, new ideas and their implementation; therefore, entrepreneurial education becomes particularly important in terms of implementation of social, technological and economic changes of various countries". The Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 on key competences for lifelong learning17 sets out eight key competences important to the EU citizens (communication in the mother tongue; communication in foreign languages; mathematical competence and basic competences in science and technology; digital competence; learning to learn; social and civic competences; sense of initiative and entrepreneurship; cultural awareness and expression), and entrepreneurship is one of them. Entrepreneurial education is particularly topical in the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy. [.]

The final publication is available at link.springer.com ; International audience ; While the Europeanisation of Higher Education (HE) systems has triggered much debate, the relationship between European factors and domestic economic processes, has been less thoroughly analysed. This article analyses HE reforms in the light of two parallel processes, which have shaped this sector: the introduction of market mechanisms and a gradual Europeanisation. The Polish HE makes a good case study of the relationship between both processes as it has been shaped by the contingencies inherent to the establishment of a liberal economic regime. Another set of inputs originated from the conditionality of the EU accession process, which coincided with the launching of the Bologna Process. While the post-communist transformations entailed the large-scale privatisation of the HE system, the Bologna Process defined the role of the sector as supporting a 'knowledge-based economy', an agenda promoted by the Lisbon strategy and international institutions in the field. Trying to combine the study of policy practice and narratives this article takes into account the legislative outcomes as well as the reform debates based both on economic arguments and on the necessity to 'catch up with Europe'.

Entrepreneurship, as one of today's most relevant competences, is widely discussed in the public space. Conditional novelty and popularity of the phenomenon is intriguing and engaging. Discussions regarding the content of the concept of entrepreneurship are carried out regularly at different levels, despite the fact that the definition of the said phenomenon is provided in general documents of the European Union. In the last decade, according to various laws and regulations, as well as scientific publications, entrepreneurship is considered as "general competence or competence relevant to all citizens of the rapidly developing countries and related to creativity, ingenuity, new ideas and their implementation; therefore, entrepreneurial education becomes particularly important in terms of implementation of social, technological and economic changes of various countries". The Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 on key competences for lifelong learning17 sets out eight key competences important to the EU citizens (communication in the mother tongue; communication in foreign languages; mathematical competence and basic competences in science and technology; digital competence; learning to learn; social and civic competences; sense of initiative and entrepreneurship; cultural awareness and expression), and entrepreneurship is one of them. Entrepreneurial education is particularly topical in the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy. [.]