The European Union's (EU) performance in crisis management has sparked a vigorous debate within the academic community. While some scholars commend the EU for its resilience and capabilities in addressing major crises, others criticise its performance and highlight instances of misfunctioning. A key aspect of this debate revolves around whether the EU is grappling with a lack of solidarity or evolving into a Solidarity Union. This paper introduces four determinants of solidarity - a/symmetry and (future) risk sharing, reciprocity and past experiences - which are intricately linked to the time horizon, whether short-term or long-term (e.g. time-delayed reciprocity). Building on this conceptual framework, the paper explores through the lens of policy learning the interdependence of time and solidarity in the EU policy-making process and examines how time, in its various dimensions, influences the legislative implementation of solidarity.
One crucial observation highlighted in this paper is the unique potential for solidarity action that arises during declared crises. European primary law, notably the 'emergency article 122 TFEU', exemplifies this phenomenon. The use of the emergency article empowers member states with swift decision-making authority in moments where rapid operational capacity is deemed indispensable. Empirically, the paper investigates how energy policy was pursued since the first gas crisis in 2006 up to the current EU energy crisis. By examining this case study, the paper provides insights into the interrelation of solidarity, crisis and aspects of time.
The paper encourages a nuanced understanding of solidarity by considering its temporal dimensions, acknowledging that the nature of solidarity can vary depending on whether the time horizon is short-term or long-term. By doing so, the paper contributes to a more comprehensive grasp of how solidarity is negotiated and implemented within the EU’s policy framework.
