The European Union's Global Health Actorness: A Research Agenda for a New Age of Pandemics

Abstract

Whilst the European Union's (EU's) response to health emergencies has historically been subpar, some suggest that it emerged from COVID‐19 as a stronger global health actor. This prompts two interrelated questions: how have International Relations scholars conceptualised and assessed EU ‘actorness’ in the all‐too‐often neglected field of global health, and what adjustments are required in anticipation of a potential new age of pandemics? This article revisits the longstanding notion of ‘actorness’ and dissects the few studies that apply it systematically to analyse the EU's role in global health. After identifying some key shortcomings in the literature, the article formulates a research agenda suitable for the complex and high‐stakes nature of contemporary global health endeavours. By further adapting the concept of ‘actorness’ to a multifaceted EU external action as well as to an increasingly intricate global governance architecture, this research agenda contributes to the broader scholarship on the EU's international outreach.