WP1: empirical foundation. Comprehensive dataset of crisis response measures from 31 European countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. This dataset, continually updated, captured the nuances of territorial differentiation and the roles of various governmental tiers. The WP also developed an innovative coding scheme, enabling robust comparative analysis and supporting the work of subsequent packages.
WP2: conceptual and theoretical dimensions of crisis governance. It identified the trade-offs democratic governments face in times of crisis and developed a framework that integrated legitimacy, crisis management, and multilevel governance (MLG). Through systematic literature reviews, comparative studies, and survey experiments, WP2 deepened the project’s theoretical underpinnings
WP3: rule of law and democratic participation, examining how parliaments and expert advisory bodies functioned during the pandemic. It analyzed the involvement of regional parliaments, the impact of advisory bodies, and the restrictions on political rights, producing comprehensive analyses and identifying best practices for maintaining legitimacy and accountability.
WP4: human rights, minority rights, and non-discrimination, investigating how crisis governance affected marginalized communities. Through in-depth interviews and qualitative research across Austria, Croatia, Italy, and Slovenia, the team provided critical insights into the experiences of minorities, border communities, and vulnerable groups.
WP5: trust in crisis governance. By conducting a large-scale survey across six EU countries, the team analyzed how public trust in government and institutions was shaped during the pandemic. The findings, disseminated through research papers and open-access datasets, offered empirical evidence on the relationship between crisis management strategies and public perceptions of legitimacy, providing valuable guidance for policymakers.
WP6: economic sustainability, focusing on the design, coordination, and effectiveness of social, fiscal, and economic measures. It produced literature reviews, datasets, and papers, highlighting the interplay between national and subnational authorities and the importance of intergovernmental coordination.
WP1-6 produced datasets, literature reviews, articles and chapters in books.
WP7 bridged research and practice, ensuring that the project’s insights translated into real-world impact. Through activities such as a multilingual e-learning course, Citizens’ Juries, Media Workshops, and practitioner engagement, it fostered democratic participation and co-created outputs with stakeholders. The development of policy recommendations and a practical toolkit for crisis governance exemplified the project’s commitment to actionable outcomes and inclusiveness.
