Network governance, vulnerable or resilient? SOLVIT’s network development in times of crisis

Network governance is often described as a compromise to deal with the international governance dilemma between a growing need of collective action and the preserved importance of national sovereignty. This dilemma features prominently in EU policy implementation as well. Here, European Administrative Networks (EANs) fulfil a crucial role in the implementation and enforcement of EU law and facilitate collaboration among national civil servants across the European Union. However, without a clear or fixed hierarchy, such horizontal governance structures may come with their own vulnerabilities. This study explores the durability of such networks and tests the resilience of the key cross-border problem-solving network for the enforcement of internal market rules: SOLVIT. In the past years, SOLVIT has faced two exogenous shocks to its system: the exit of a key player (Brexit) and the uncertainty and challenges posed on the internal market by a global pandemic (COVID-19). Based on unique three-wave survey data on SOLVIT’s network interactions, we develop a continuous-time model (SAOM) to analyse the network evolution during these crises. We test how both crises have affected interactions among SOLVIT centres for general discussions, exchange of views or informal advice on SOLVIT-related matters. Our preliminary results show that the network is remarkably resilient and despite, or rather because of, these shocks, has become denser over time.