Vertrouwen, legitimiteit en nalevingsbereidheid aangaande COVID-19 exit-maatregelen.

Although intrusive Covid-19 lockdown measures were legitimate in the initial stages of the crisis, the overriding call for stringent measures is gradually dissipating. Citizens increasingly demand that exitstrategies are developed with sufficient regard for their socio-economic interests, while potential infringements of fundamental rights, such as free movement, privacy and fair competition, and legal principles such as equality and proportionality lead to increasing criticism of and even litigation against government measures. While current strategies are primarily based on epidemiological and medical research, the growing relevance of social and legal factors for the development of exit-strategies implies that new data and knowledge is urgently needed. In particular, insights into the conditions under which Covid-19 measures are socially legitimate, legally sound, and stimulate citizen compliance is necessary to develop sustainable exit-strategies. Our project fills the lack of scientific and policyrelevant knowledge of social and legal factors in Covid-19 exit-strategies by using the following double approach 1) three vignette surveys examine how intended compliance and legitimacy of combinations of proposed Belgian Covid-19 measures is influenced by framing on underlying public health, social and legal concerns 2) and a systematic legal analysis aims at generating new insights on new measures' legality and provide essential input for the design of the vignette surveys. Continuous communication to governments of research findings from the vignette surveys and legal analysis to will provide policyrelevant input on new measures, allowing governments to make informed and balanced decisions on their exit-strategies, and providing support in the prevention of non-compliance to or litigation against Covid-19 measures.

Trefwoorden:LEGITIMITEIT, COVID-19, EVENREDIGHEID, TRUST

Disciplines:Openbaar beleid, Administratief recht, Constitutioneel recht