Institutions for Conflict Resolution (COI)

Redistribution in the EU

For a Union closer to its citizens: social psychological insights into EU-level redistribution and perceived legitimacy.

This research concerns the relationship between EU-level redistribution and perceived legitimacy. It unites insights from social psychology with legal doctrinal analysis to better understand the challenges and opportunities posed by EU-level redistribution from the perspective of the citizen.

A significant portion of the Union's budget is dedicated to explicitly redistributive projects, but the allocation and use of funds is a politically fraught process. Indeed, recent controversy concerning NGEU indicates resource allocation and use can cause conflicts that separate institutions, citizens, and Member States. Our research approaches this material with a conflict-resolving lens and hopes to formulate pragmatic, constitutionally sound recommendations for a Union close to its citizens.