Weak institutions, positive results. The European Union’s response to Covid-19

This chapter aims to highlight the impact of Covid-19 on the federalising process of the EU. The main issues at stake are the dialectical relationship between the intergovernmental and supranational perspectives. The chapter describes the EU’s response to the pandemic by analysing the EU’s competence in disaster management and public health as well as the financial tools that exist for addressing economic crisis. Moreover, it assesses the role of the principle of solidarity and cooperation during the 2020 pandemic, with the focus on the European Commission and the financial measures that were adopted.