If anything, the emphasis on policy capacity has continued, though for complicated and not always mutually consistent reasons. as mentioned above, a key factor has been the realization of the importance of the state and state policy for a host of social and economic active. The sterile debate of the 1980s and 1990s over a "minimalist state" has been eclipsed by several realities. The post-9/11 international and domestic security situation, as well as the global economic crisis, demands both policy and operational responsiveness by government. modern economic depend increasingly on new technologies, innovation, and research, and government find themselves having to design new, more supple, forms of regulation, intervention, and support (Fourteenth Annual Report, 2007). A factor peculiar to Europe is the recent accession January 1, 2007) of Romania and Bulgaria to the European Union (Eu), completing the fifth enlargement to 27 countries. Turkey and Croatia are candidate countries.In order to be admitted to the EU, applicant countries must make their laws and most policy frameworks consistent with the " acquiscommunautaire," or the body of laws, treaties, declarations, and resolutions that make up the EU. This requires a tremendous amount of policy-oriented work.