Far from reopening classic debates on EU modes of governance, this special issue uses the governance notion as an organizing concept in order to examine the governing of the EU in times of crisis. More specifically, we argue that focusing on modes of governance contributes to the understanding of ‘where the power lies in the EU system’ especially when an external shock – such as the crisis – hits the EU governance system. A systematic investigation is not possible given the limitation on space, but this introductory article highlights some of the aspects that we consider have been at the heart of the new political challenges to the EU. Our main hypothesis is that the 2008 crisis has offered a new opportunity for the intergovernmental mode of decision-making to prevail, left marginal space for further including citizens in decision-making processes and has provided a very narrow definition of effectiveness. This change of context calls for a re-examination of forms of governing in the EU, and more specifically the so-called ‘softening narrative’, in order to go beyond a mere distinction between ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ law and focus more on the governing processes that are in place in various institutional and policy areas.