The EU has sought to stimulate research collaborations for decades to enhance synergies among European research communities and to support its own policy goals. However, disparities remain in terms of overall participation, roles within cooperative research and financial contributions received, particularly between the Western/Northern parts of Europe and Southern, Central and Eastern European countries. These differences can be seen in the Framework Programme as a whole, but are also visible across the transition-related thematic areas of climate, energy and mobility.