The concept of ¿European Research Area¿ witnesses the willingness of Europe to progressively integrate their national research areas into a European one, itself being part of a global research area. In the specific field of agricultural research for development, the process initiated some years ago is nearly the same, though using the words ¿forum¿ or ¿system¿ instead of ¿area¿. All 22 national research areas (from the 15 EU Member States, Norway, Switzerland and the candidate countries) are thus destined to evolve in order to find their place in a regional area, or, in a more constraining way, to build a regional research system. This political willingness, clearly expressed by the European Commissioner for Research and endorsed by the European Council of Ministers, will be implemented in public policies for research through assignements and incentives which should logically lead research institutions and researchers to take part in the ERA building process.