Crisis-induced transformation in EU governance: inter-institutional politics and multi-level responses (II)

Abstract

The European Union (EU) has been confronted with an unprecedented era of multiple crises and security threats, ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic and climate-related disasters to geopolitical shocks such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. These events have called into question traditional understandings of governance within the EU, raising questions about the distribution of authority, the limits of supranational competencies, and the resilience of multi-level institutions. This panel explores how such crises trigger change in EU governance and policy making, thus reshaping inter-institutional dynamics. Papers explore the role of subnational authorities in climate resilience, the inter-institutional dynamics of joint procurement and fiscal coordination, and the cyclical expansion and contraction of competence in security and foreign policy. By providing a nuanced and timely overview of EU institutional and inter-institutional change, this panel illuminates how the Union navigates an increasingly complex and uncertain political landscape. It highlights not only the vulnerabilities exposed by crises but also the opportunities for institutional learning, strategic adaptation, and governance innovation. In doing so, the panel provides a comprehensive understanding of how crises drive incremental integration, institutional transformation, and resilience-building in Europe. It demonstrates that EU governance is simultaneously reactive, adaptive, and strategically entrepreneurial, producing long-term changes in institutional roles, authority patterns, and intergovernmental relations.

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