Abstract
European Administrative Networks (EANs) are an increasingly prominent form of European Union (EU) governance. Although these networks are typically portrayed as important and flexible forms of organization, we lack knowledge on their temporal dimension, including their development in times of crises. This paper provides a first analysis of network interaction as it unfolds before and during times of severe crises for the EU internal market. Specifically, we examine interaction in the EU internal market network SOLVIT. In the past years, SOLVIT has faced two shocks to its system: the exit of a key player (Brexit) and the uncertainty and challenges posed on the internal market by a global pandemic (COVID-19). Based on unique three-wave survey data on SOLVIT’s network interactions, we develop a continuous-time model (SAOM) to analyse the network evolution during these crises. We test how both crises have affected interactions among SOLVIT centres for general discussions, exchange of views or informal advice on SOLVIT-related matters. Our results show that the network is remarkably resilient and despite, or rather because of, these shocks, has become denser over time.
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