Rationale

Since its inception in the 1950s, the European Union (EU) has been predominantly concerned with the development of economic integration. In recent years, the EU has increasingly developed capacities and competence in the area of what Americans refer to as homeland security. The EU now boosts crisis centers, early warning systems and rapid reaction forces. Much more is in the making. This research project addresses three major questions. First, it seeks to answer why the EU has suddenly become involved in the area of civil defence and disaster management. While the rise and threat of so-called transboundary crises would seem to make this development both logical and desirable, recent obstacles to further integration between the member states would predict that this concern with homeland security (a traditional concern of the nation state) would be at least one bridge too far. Second, the research project seeks to map the evolution and dynamics of this process. Where is it happening? How do the new organizations, policies and functionaries work to deal with future contingencies? Third, what are the effects – both envisioned and unintended – of this development? Will the EU’s rising role in homeland security make European citizens safer? If so, at which costs?

Activities, research team and publications

The research team consists of Arjen Boin (LSU), Magnus Ekengren ( Swedish National Defence College), Sanneke Kuipers ( Leiden University) and Mark Rhinard (Swedish Institute of International Affairs). The research is funded by a generous grant from the Swedish Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). Current research projects include the mapping of crisis management structures in the EU member states, the investigation of crisis management policies and instruments at the EU level, the necessity of a new security paradigm in the Europe, and the international cooperation between the EU and partner nations such as the US.

The research has led to a number of publications:

• Boin, R.A. and Rhinard, M. “Crisis Management in Europe: What role for the Union?” (accepted by International Studies Review).
• Fritzon, A., Ljungkvist, K., Boin, R.A. and Rhinard, M. (2007) “Protecting Europe’s critical infrastructures: Recent developments, future prospects”, Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, volume 15, number 1 (March), pp. 30-41.
• Boin, R.A., Ekengren, M. and Rhinard, M. (2006) “Protecting the Union: Analyzing an emerging policy space”, Journal of European Integration, volume 28, number 5, December, pp. 405-421.
• Rhinard, M., Ekengren, M. and Boin, R.A. (2006) “The European Union’s Emerging Protection Space: Next steps for research and practice”, Journal of European Integration , volume 28, number 5, December, pp. 511-527.
• Boin, R.A., Ekengren, M. and Rhinard, M. (2006) “The Commission and Crisis Management” in Spence, D. (Ed.) The European Commission , London: J. Harper Publisher.
• Boin, R.A., Ekengren, M., Missiroli, A., Rhinard, M. and Sundelius, B. (2007) Building Societal Security in Europe: The EU’s role in Managing Emergencies , EPC Working Paper No. 27, Brussels: European Policy Centre.
• Boin, R.A. and Sundelius, B. (2007) “Managing European Emergencies: Considering the pros and cons of an EU agency” in Boin et al (Eds) Building Societal Security in Europe: The EU’s role in Managing Emergencies , EPC Working Paper No. 27, Brussels: European Policy Centre (pp. 33-46).
• Boin, R.A., Ekengren, M. and Rhinard, M. (2006) Functional security and crisis management capacity in the European Union: Setting the research agenda. Stockholm: Swedish National Defence College (report commissioned by the Swedish Emergency Management Agency).
• Boin, R.A., Ekengren, M., Missiroli, A. and Rhinard, M. (2005) “Catastrophes of tomorrow demand EU leadership today”, European Voice 11 (37) p. 9 (op-ed page).
• Boin, R.A. and Rhinard, M. (2005) (Eds.) Shocks without frontiers: Transnational breakdowns and critical incidents (A Green Paper) EPC Issue Paper No. 42. Brussels: The European Policy Center. This report was translated and published in the Russian journal Mir Peremen (World of Change) in 2006, number 2, pp.140-161.