From Bruessels:  “A knowledge-based Area.”  Europe presently faces important political and institutional developments, linked to the accession of 10 new members and the preparation of a constitutional Treaty. But it is not only the EU's borders that change; European projects and their content are also affected. The development and use of human knowledge are important for European society's economic expansion as well as for the social well-being of its citizens. The Lisbon European Council of March 2000 developed the concept of a "Europe of knowledge". What does this mean ? A competitive and dynamic economy should be created within the EU through the development of a "knowledge society" and major investment in "human capital". Central to knowledge are education, training and research.