title: 1 Introduction: The EU under strain
abstract: Policy-making in the European Union has been shaped -if not dominated -by aw ide variety of different types of crises in recent years. Accordingly, much political activity by the EU and related actors has had ac ertain urgency,occurred under intense economic and societalstrain, and required responses in policy areas wherethe EU traditionallyonlyholds fragmented competencies. Shifting priorities, short-term policyr esponses,a nd adapted implementation schedules showcase that EU governance now mos