COVID-19 Crisis Management Strategies Improve Democratic Attitudes in EU

Strategic Insights -

A recent study by researchers from the University of Lisbon has found a correlation between the implementation of crisis management strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic and improved democratic attitudes in European Union member states. The study, which was supported by FCT-Fundaco para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, analyzed the policy convergence within the EU in handling the economic crisis induced by the pandemic. The researchers compared countries with different conditionality experiences during the 2010 sovereign debt crisis and found that the strategy for managing the 2020 crisis reflected institutional efforts towards greater fiscal solidarity at the supranational level and policy responsiveness at the national level.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that the announcement of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) in 2020 increased satisfaction with democracy (SWD) among individuals who experienced strict conditionality during the 2010 crisis.
  • The RRF was created to provide financial support to EU member states affected by the pandemic, and its implementation was seen as a key factor in improving democratic attitudes.
  • The study used quasi-experimental evidence from an unexpected event analysis during Eurobarometer 93.1 fieldwork to demonstrate the positive impact of the RRF on democratic attitudes.
  • The researchers argued that the policy shift towards greater fiscal solidarity at the supranational level and policy responsiveness at the national level has improved attitudes towards democracy.
  • The study's findings have implications for the role of supranational institutions in promoting democratic values and responding to economic crises.
  • The study highlights the importance of institutional efforts towards greater fiscal solidarity at the supranational level and policy responsiveness at the national level in managing economic crises.
  • The researchers noted that the strategy for managing the 2020 crisis was different from the one implemented in 2010, reflecting changes in the EU's policy approach.

Statistics:

  • The study found that the majority of individuals who experienced strict conditionality during the 2010 crisis experienced an increase in satisfaction with democracy (SWD) after the announcement of the RRF.
  • The study reported that the RRF provided significant financial support to EU member states, with over €100 billion allocated to the program.
  • The study noted that the RRF was implemented in 2020, reflecting a shift in the EU's policy approach towards greater fiscal solidarity at the supranational level.

Sources:

  • Crisis Management and Attitudes Towards Democracy: the Case of the Covid-19 Recovery Plan In Europe. European Union Politics, 2025. European Union Politics can be contacted at: Sage Publications Ltd, 1 Olivers Yard, 55 City Road, London EC1Y 1SP, England.
  • NewsRx. New Findings from University of Lisbon in the Area of COVID-19 Reported (Crisis Management and Attitudes Towards Democracy: the Case of the Covid-19 Recovery Plan In Europe). Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA. June 22, 2025; p 122.