In this article Arjen Boin & Mark Rhinard examines the EU relief efforts to Haiti.

If critics want a truly fast, well co-ordinated, EU-led response, they should consider delegating more powers to supranational institutions. It remains unclear if the EU has sufficient capacity to deal with crises and disasters within the Union. How will the EU assist member states when a transboundary crisis paralyses critical infrastructures? What competencies does the Commission possess, or need, to play a meaningful role? More important than institutional concerns is political will: who will fight to ensure that the EU’s disaster-management responsibilities inside the EU match its capacities outside?

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