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The EU institutions' framing of the Covid crisis: from global pandemic to green recovery

Lorenz, Philipp Arian LU (2022) SKOM12 20211
Department of Strategic Communication
Abstract (Swedish)
This thesis aims to study how the legitimacy of the EU’s pandemic crisis response
in connection to green policies, in the interinstitutional exchange, is supported or undermined by connected frames and a subordinate master frame over the course
of the first six months of the unfolding pandemic. Six EU institutions’ residents, who “have a say” on economic crisis measures, were picked from the European Commission, Parliament, Council and Eurogroup and European Central Bank. In
the analysed period from January to June 2020, the presidents’ speeches and
statements (transcripts), centred on economics were searched for green aspects. Of
the 35 which mention green policies, a qualitative framing analysis in a longitudinal design was... (More)
This thesis aims to study how the legitimacy of the EU’s pandemic crisis response
in connection to green policies, in the interinstitutional exchange, is supported or undermined by connected frames and a subordinate master frame over the course
of the first six months of the unfolding pandemic. Six EU institutions’ residents, who “have a say” on economic crisis measures, were picked from the European Commission, Parliament, Council and Eurogroup and European Central Bank. In
the analysed period from January to June 2020, the presidents’ speeches and
statements (transcripts), centred on economics were searched for green aspects. Of
the 35 which mention green policies, a qualitative framing analysis in a longitudinal design was conducted. Crisis phases, with fluent borders, were identified (“at the doorstep”; first peak; crisis measures for long-term recovery; Next Generation EU) marking differences in how green policies were integrated in frames. For a few weeks, urgent crisis measures relegated long-term agendas, such as the green one, to the background; besides, there were little indications of green policies as a secondary concern. In contrast, the crisis was soon framed as an opportunity, giving green policies additional momentum, integrating green in recovery and resilience, and to address future generations (also to justify public spending). The presidents communicated the EU institutions’ unity, and little conflict was present.

The thesis observed a master frame of a green and digital transition propelling the recovery and resilience for future generations, which developed during the crisis and through the presidents’ address in their frames. Aligning the agenda of two public interests, the pandemic response and climate change mitigation, in frames was identified as a strategy for maintaining the EU’s legitimacy. (Less)
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author
Lorenz, Philipp Arian LU
supervisor
organization
course
SKOM12 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
framing analysis, crisis communication, EU institutions, legitimacy.
language
English
id
9113820
date added to LUP
2023-05-04 16:45:59
date last changed
2023-05-04 16:46:12
@misc{9113820,
  abstract     = {{This thesis aims to study how the legitimacy of the EU’s pandemic crisis response
in connection to green policies, in the interinstitutional exchange, is supported or undermined by connected frames and a subordinate master frame over the course
of the first six months of the unfolding pandemic. Six EU institutions’ residents, who “have a say” on economic crisis measures, were picked from the European Commission, Parliament, Council and Eurogroup and European Central Bank. In
the analysed period from January to June 2020, the presidents’ speeches and
statements (transcripts), centred on economics were searched for green aspects. Of
the 35 which mention green policies, a qualitative framing analysis in a longitudinal design was conducted. Crisis phases, with fluent borders, were identified (“at the doorstep”; first peak; crisis measures for long-term recovery; Next Generation EU) marking differences in how green policies were integrated in frames. For a few weeks, urgent crisis measures relegated long-term agendas, such as the green one, to the background; besides, there were little indications of green policies as a secondary concern. In contrast, the crisis was soon framed as an opportunity, giving green policies additional momentum, integrating green in recovery and resilience, and to address future generations (also to justify public spending). The presidents communicated the EU institutions’ unity, and little conflict was present.

The thesis observed a master frame of a green and digital transition propelling the recovery and resilience for future generations, which developed during the crisis and through the presidents’ address in their frames. Aligning the agenda of two public interests, the pandemic response and climate change mitigation, in frames was identified as a strategy for maintaining the EU’s legitimacy.}},
  author       = {{Lorenz, Philipp Arian}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The EU institutions' framing of the Covid crisis: from global pandemic to green recovery}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}