The European Union as an Engine for Innovation

Abstract: The President of the European Commission, Josè Manuel Barroso is demanding an innovation society in the European Union, while many of the citizens of the European Union are sceptical about the entire organization. This thesis deals with the question whether the European Union is an engine for innovation or not. Based on the four innova-tion indicators “Sustainability and Sustainable Development”, “Regional Synergies”, “Crea-tive Cultural Exchange” and “Future Technologies” the policies and the budget of the European Union are analyzed regarding its degree of innovation. The thesis shows that the European Union has made some effort towards more innova-tion; however, there is still enormous potential for improvement, especially in the budget distribution regarding large agricultural expenditures.