The EU Response to COVID‐19: From Reactive Policies to Strategic Decision‐Making

Forman, Rebecca; Mossialos, Elías

doi:10.1111/jcms.13259

Cited by 25 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…While two of the main characteristics of EMR are accessibility and easy transfer ( 10 ), the fragmentation among national measures such as border closures did not only cause national borders to become more visible again but also brought up uncertainty regarding operational processes. Other studies have also identified the fragmentation in the EU regarding nationally implemented COVID-19 measures ( 4 , 5 , 9 ). Previous studies highlighted the need for better European structures and a better delegation of tasks ( 3 – 5 , 38 , 40 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other studies have also identified the fragmentation in the EU regarding nationally implemented COVID-19 measures ( 4 , 5 , 9 ). Previous studies highlighted the need for better European structures and a better delegation of tasks ( 3 – 5 , 38 , 40 ). The purchase and distribution of certain equipment call for joint procurement and standardized processes ( 4 , 5 , 40 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies highlighted the need for better European structures and a better delegation of tasks ( 3 – 5 , 38 , 40 ). The purchase and distribution of certain equipment call for joint procurement and standardized processes ( 4 , 5 , 40 ). This becomes especially apparent in the studied cross-border region, where countries often face similar obstacles or could help each other even better if standardized structures or agreements were in place and considered nationally ( 3 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The cross-border collaboration in the EMR (also through EMRIC) prior to the pandemic is perceived as well-functioning and based on solid foundations (ID 1,4,6,11,16). Several respondents refer to various general agreements concerning cross-border collaboration that are in place, in addition to more specific agreements around fire protection, EMS or disaster management (ID 4,5,8,9,11). Further agreements between municipalities exist in certain border regions.…”

Section: Cross-border Collaboration Before the Covid-19 Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The novel coronavirus SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19), which reached the European Union (EU) in early 2020, had a significant and rapid impact on inter alia healthcare ( 1 ). The fragmentation of the EU in their approaches to tackling the pandemic became apparent and showed the need for public health reforms at the regional, national, and European levels ( 4 , 5 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impacts and Lessons Learned of the First Three COVID-19 Waves on Cross-Border Collaboration in the Field of Emergency Medical Services and Interhospital Transports in the Euregio-Meuse-Rhine: A Qualitative Review of Expert Opinions

Sommer

Rehbock

Vos

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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BackgroundIn the Euregio-Meuse-Rhine (EMR), cross-border collaboration is essential for resource-saving and needs-based patient care within the emergency medical service (EMS) systems and interhospital transport (IHT). However, at the onset of the novel coronavirus SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, differing national measures highlighted the fragmentation within the European Union (EU) in its various approaches to combating the pandemic. To assess the consequences of the pandemic in the EMR border area, the aim of this study was to analyze the effects and “lessons learned” regarding cross-border collaboration in EMS and IHT.MethodA qualitative study with 22 semi-structured interviews was carried out. Experts from across the EMR area, including the City of Aachen, the City region of Aachen, the District of Heinsberg (Germany), South Limburg (The Netherlands), and the Province of Limburg, as well as Liège (Belgium), took part. The interviews were coded and analyzed according to changes in cross-border collaboration before and during the pandemic, as well as lessons learned and recommendations.ResultsEach EU member country within the EMR area, addressed the pandemic individually with national measures. Cross-border collaboration between regional actors was hardly or not at all addressed at the national level during political decision- or policymaking. Previous direct communication at the personal level was replaced by national procedures, which made regular cross-border collaboration significantly more difficult. The cross-border transfer regulations of patients with COVID-19 proved to be complex and led, among other things, to patients being transported to hospitals far outside the border region. Collaboration continues to be seen as valuable and Euregional emergency services including hospitals work well together, albeit to different degrees. The information and data exchange should, however, be more transparent to use resources more efficiently.ConclusionEffective Euregional collaboration of emergency services is imperative for public safety in a multi-border region with strong economic, cultural, and social cross-border links. Our findings indicate that existing (pre-pandemic) structures which included regular meetings of senior managerial staff in the region and a number of thematic working groups were helpful to deal with and to compensate for the disruptions during the crisis. Regional cross-border agreements that are currently based on mutual but more or less informal arrangements need to be formalized and better promoted and recognized also at the national and EU level to increase resilience. The continuous determination of synergies and good and best practices are further approaches to support cross-border collaboration especially in preparation for future crises.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cross-border Collaboration Before the Covid-19 Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impacts and Lessons Learned of the First Three COVID-19 Waves on Cross-Border Collaboration in the Field of Emergency Medical Services and Interhospital Transports in the Euregio-Meuse-Rhine: A Qualitative Review of Expert Opinions

Sommer

Rehbock

Vos

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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Norm collisions in European Union sectoral governance during the COVID‐19 pandemic: How the European Commission reconfigures norms in crises

Felder,

Stockmann

2023

Contemporary European Politics

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This article argues that the COVID‐19 pandemic has incited the collision of norms in sectoral European Union (EU) governance and provided an open juncture for the European Commission to engage in norm reconfiguration. Herewith, the paper expands the conceptual scope of EU‐related norm research, which by focussing on the diffusion of norms within and beyond the EU has largely omitted dynamic perspectives on norms so far. We combine International Relations norm research with EU governance literature to scrutinise the normative underpinnings of the immediate crisis response within Commission sectoral strategies and working programs. Empirically, the paper focuses on the higher education and transport sectors, which have been particularly impacted by the COVID‐19 crisis and targeted by the EU crisis response. The interpretative‐qualitative analysis uncovers COVID‐19‐related collisions within the ideational constellation of EU governance and shows that the European Commission has engaged in different reconfiguration practices, potentially altering the norm constellation in the investigated sectoral governance areas.

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Introduction—Assessing the EU’s Double Challenge

Costa

Hecke

2022

The EU Political System After the 2019 European Elections

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The EU Response to COVID‐19: From Reactive Policies to Strategic Decision‐Making

Cited by 25 publications

References 16 publications

Impacts and Lessons Learned of the First Three COVID-19 Waves on Cross-Border Collaboration in the Field of Emergency Medical Services and Interhospital Transports in the Euregio-Meuse-Rhine: A Qualitative Review of Expert Opinions

Impacts and Lessons Learned of the First Three COVID-19 Waves on Cross-Border Collaboration in the Field of Emergency Medical Services and Interhospital Transports in the Euregio-Meuse-Rhine: A Qualitative Review of Expert Opinions

Norm collisions in European Union sectoral governance during the COVID‐19 pandemic: How the European Commission reconfigures norms in crises

Introduction—Assessing the EU’s Double Challenge

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