Presidents in EU Crises: Political Leadership Beyond Core Executives

^{Starting with the Eurozone crisis, the EU has faced some of its greatest challenges since the inception of the ECSC over the course of less than a decade. New questions of foreign and security policy have not only arisen in the wake of Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula but also in connection with the influx of refugees. Last, the UK’s decision to leave the European Union has put pressure on governments to reflect on the future of the European project and its connections with the citizens it is meant to benefit. Throughout these crises, presidents have emerged as exceedingly vocal actors in a number of countries where they normally do not play a leading executive role. Despite limitations in formal prerogatives and influence on policy-making, office-holders have gone beyond established roles and constitutional practice in a bid to influence the management of European crises at national and international level. This paper analyses these developments by first mapping out the institutional framework for presidential action and potential for political leadership in international-level crises across European republics. Second, it lays out a framework for examining presidents’ personal leadership capital and the specific political constellations which have contributed to presidents’ increased prominence and activism. Last, drawing on examples from several European countries, the paper discusses the real-life implications for European policy-making as well as for the study of political leadership beyond core executives.}