Walking the Tightrope: Politicization and the Commission's Enforcement of the SGP*

Recent research indicates that bottom-up EU politicization shapes top-down policy enforcement, yet leaves open questions on the pervasiveness of these effects in areas are depoliticized by design. This contribution asks how societal shaped enforcement Stability and Growth Pact up until its COVID-19-induced suspension. It employs causal process-tracing to analyse fiscal rule under varying levels constellations politicization. Results indicate European Commission is both mandate exogenous pressures created reputational concerns they induce. Moreover, has gradually pushed towards increasingly flexible rules. These conclusions relevant because show permeates even most policy. Additionally, suggest SGP's suspension can be understood as a continuation existing strategies.