COVID-19 Exposes many Weaknesses of the EU

The EU was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic at a time when it was still entangled in dealing with the preceding crises and a new Commission wanted to implement its plans. Unlike the financial crisis, which was triggered by economic imbalances, imbalances were now a consequence of the crisis. Compared to the refugee crisis, whose threat could be quantified in numbers, there was now the danger of a collapse of the health system. To limit the economic damage of the pandemic, enormous resources had to be expended at the national and EU level to stimulate growth, curb unemployment, and limit distribution problems. Overall, the Corona crisis has highlighted the value of the EU in coordinating health policy as well as financing aid programs.