Drivers of Euroenthusiasm of National Political Elites: the Test of the EU Economic Crisis

Abstract

Undeniably, the economic crisis of 2008 was a critical juncture and a stress test for the EU and the Europeanness of its populations and elites. The crisis therefore offers an appropriate research setting for addressing two major research questions. In the following paragraphs, we first question how optimistic and unified the national political elites are towards the EU after the economic crisis of 2008. Second, we investigate which factors shape and drive the attitudes towards the EU of the national political elites.