This book examines similarities and differences in 31 European governments' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic hit Europe in early 2020. It spread across the continent during the Spring while anxious electorates were treated to news reports about health systems under duress and frustrated attempts by public procurement officials to obtain adequate supplies of medical and protective equipment. Over the next 15-18 months considered by this book, national responses exhibited both similarities and profound variations as the different endeavours to regulate social interactions constituted a stress test for political systems across Europe.

This book offers the first comprehensive analysis after the Lisbon Treaty came into force of the EU Presidency's impact on national administrations in the Member States of Poland, Denmark and Cyprus before, during and after the Presidency. Placing the practical issues facing officials and policy-makers into a "governmentality" framework, it analyses the impact on the daily activities of bureaucrats and ministers. The book utilises comprehensive and novel empirical material including around 100 interviews with key officials, documentary sources and academic literature. It uncovers the kind of negotiations, management and coordination triggered by the immense challenge of presiding over the EU -including being a part of a Trio. This text will be of key interest to scholars, students of political science, European Union studies and public administration, as well as more broadly to Comparative Politics and International Relations. It will also be of interest to officials and policy members in EU Member states approaching the Presidency.

This book offers the first comprehensive analysis after the Lisbon Treaty came into force of the EU Presidency's impact on national administrations in the Member States of Poland, Denmark and Cyprus before, during and after the Presidency. Placing the practical issues facing officials and policy-makers into a "governmentality" framework, it analyses the impact on the daily activities of bureaucrats and ministers. The book utilises comprehensive and novel empirical material including around 100 interviews with key officials, documentary sources and academic literature. It uncovers the kind of negotiations, management and coordination triggered by the immense challenge of presiding over the EU -including being a part of a Trio. This text will be of key interest to scholars, students of political science, European Union studies and public administration, as well as more broadly to Comparative Politics and International Relations. It will also be of interest to officials and policy members in EU Member states approaching the Presidency.