Abstract:? The concept of a European Research Area was launched by the Commission in 2000 with the intention of becoming a watershed in European research policy. The aim was to create an internal market of research, in contrast with previous efforts in research policy that amounted to continued fragmentation. Lack of support from both Member States and the Council, together with the almost exclusive use of the Open Method of Coordination for the design of the Area, meant that the initially high ambitions were not met. The social repercussions of the project were also watered down as a consequence.