This paper investigates the interaction between ideas and interests in constructing the Europe of Knowledge. It explores how the knowledge-based economy paradigm has influenced the key actors in European higher education policy cooperation and examines whether the knowledge-based economy is an overarching paradigm uniting different actors (their ideas and interests) and steering the integration process. I argue that despite the tangible differences between the key players at European level, they nevertheless share similar ideational outlook on the role and purpose of higher education. These can be understood as means for promoting economic growth and competitiveness through the knowledge-based economy. To substantiate this claim, this study applies the methods of qualitative content analysis of documents and semi-structured expert interviews.
