EU Socio-Economic Governance after the Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly reshaped the governance of the European Union, prompting new forms of crisis management, policy coordination, and institutional innovation. From the unprecedented mobilization of the Recovery and Resilience Facility to shifts in public health, social, and economic policy, the pandemic has highlighted both the potential and limits of EU-level action. This panel examines how EU governance has evolved in response to the crisis, exploring changes in decision-making processes, inter-institutional dynamics, and the balance of power between the EU and its member states. Contributions address issues such as crisis-induced innovation, the role of conditionality and compliance, the politicization of EU action, and the interplay between short-term emergency measures and longer-term policy trajectories. Comparative and country-specific analyses illuminate how different member states engage with EU governance structures, while theoretical perspectives help interpret the broader implications for European integration, legitimacy, and resilience. By assessing the transformations and continuities in EU governance, the panel offers insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping the post-pandemic European polity.

Title	Details
Who Gets the Blame? National Parliamentary Debates in the European Semester	View Paper Details
The EU’s social investment agenda in an age of fragmentation: beyond lip service?	View Paper Details
From the RRF to the SGP: centralization and socioeconomic reform commitments in a new adversarial environment	View Paper Details
The Role of Social Partners in the Revamped EU Socio-Economic Governance Architecture	View Paper Details