The European Union and Covid-19: Response and Impact

The Covid-19 crisis has presented the EU with an unprecedented health crisis with important ramifications for European societies and economies. If the initial EU’s response to the crisis has looked uncoordinated, for instance with the disorganised adoption of lock downs or the lack of solidarity vis-à-vis Italy in terms of medical equipment, some positive developments have also taken place. Solidarity mechanisms with the evacuation of patients from France to other European countries or the discussion around a historical recovery package by the European Commission have proved that the EU has been able to act rather quickly compared to the 2008 financial crisis. Although the implementation of these measures remain to be seen, the crisis has led to new reform dynamics with discussions over a new Green deal, the revised New Pact for Migration in Europe or the revision of supply chains in European economies. The power balance amongst EU member states will also be affected. With an imminent Brexit, the role of France and Germany in European integration are under intense scrutiny. Finally lock-downs and other social distancing measures have clearly amplified socio-economic inequalities across Europe. Vulnerabilities have increased. For instance in France, the National Statistical Office found that in March and April 2020, the death rate of foreign-born people was more than twice superior to that of French-born individuals (INSEE, 2020). Finally the adoption of special emergency state measures and lock-downs also poses the question of the impact of the crisis and its management on liberties and democracy in the EU. This section aims to analyse the EU’s initial response to the crisis as well as the social, economic and political implications of the pandemic on EU institutions, policies and procedures, on the economic and financial cost of the recovery and the more long-term impact on the wider integration process. This Section invites scholars to consider the following questions: how can one assess the EU’s initial reaction to the crisis? What has been the role of EU institutions and EU member states in shaping the EU’s response? What frames and narratives have prevailed? What has been the role of experts? How has European integration been affected? Has it affected differently EU policy areas? What is the socio-economic impact of Covid-19 and how this is impacting on inequalities across Europe? How did the emergency state measures and lock-downs have impacted freedom of movement? What have been the consequences for individual liberties and the state of democracy in Europe? What geopolitical consequences will it have for the EU’s role in the world? What theories are available to explain the response and implications of the crisis in the EU?