Focus groups in nine European countries were used to examine what expectations citizens have of states, the EU or other citizens in collective emergencies. The data comes from the joint research project HEUREC . The research shows that European citizens still primarily view nation states as political actors that demonstrate solidarity, both as providers and recipients of aid. Even though many citizens now view the EU as a community based on solidarity, they attribute to it, at best, a coordinating role in emergency situations.

Solidarity in the European Union and the resilience of the state as a communicative frame