Introduction to EU Governance of (Global) Emergencies, Threats and Crises

Abstract

This is the introductory chapter of the book, which examines the new legal instruments that the European Union (EU) has at its disposal to tackle situations of humanitarian emergency and to fight terrorism outside the EU, following the Treaty of Lisbon. In addition, the book examines the obligations of solidarity stemming from Article 222 TFEU for the EU and its Member States in the event that the territory of a component of the EU family is the subject of a terrorist attack or a natural/man-made disaster. It explores what the effects are of the economic and fiscal crises of the Euro zone countries as well as the volcanic ash crisis on the European integration process and considers judicial review of EU measures addressing emergencies, crises or threats. The opening contribution sets out the scrutiny of the EU policy approach from the perspective of the EU policy makers. Keywords: economic crises; European Union (EU); fiscal crises; humanitarian emergency; terrorist attack; Treaty of Lisbon