The European union: united in diversity? : A comparative analysis of the European union's statements during the refugee crisis of 2015 (Syria) and 2022 (Ukraine), based on the directive of temporary protection (2001/55/EG).

Since Russia's military invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Union (EU) has acted in a different and innovative manner. The cooperation has been united and expressed itself in new ways, such as activating the temporary protection directive, as well as making a historic decision to send lethal equipment to Ukraine. However, in previous refugee crises, the EU has acted upon the status quo and suffered from uneven distribution of responsibility between the member states. The absence of cooperation and the pursuit for a unified identity have challenged the European Union's motto of "United in diversity," thus prompting research to be conducted. This case study seeks to examine how the social constructivist perspective, with a collective approach, can contribute to an understanding of the EU, as a global actor. The aim is to shed light on motives and factors that may have influenced the decision-making of the European union. To achieve this, the study employs a methodological discourse analysis of public documents from diverse institutions, thus the primary source. The results reveal that the social constructivist perspective can visualise patterns in how the European union discusses the collective, depending on different occasions and who is granted legitimacy to do so. Additionally, the study advocates for further research from a social constructivist perspective and suggests the inclusion of rational choice institutionalism in future studies