Subsidiarity
EU always works in cooperation with other institutions in a method of reciprocal recognition and empowerment that is technically called “subsidiarity”.[1]
Subsidiarity is a fundamental principle of the European Union law,[2] established in EU law by the Treaty of Maastricht (Article 5), and signed Feb 7 1992. It is described in the Treaty as the principle whereby “the Community shall act within the limits of the powers conferred upon it by this Treaty and of the objectives assigned to it therein. In areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence, the Community shall take action, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community. Any action by the Community shall not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the objectives of this Treaty.” However, at the local level, it was already a key element of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, an instrument of the Council of Europe promulgated in 1985 (see Article 4, Paragraph 3 of the Charter)
The concept of subsidiarity[3] has both a legal and a political dimension. Criteria explaining the principle include:
· The action must be necessary (i.e. EU can make laws) where member states agree that action of individual countries or member-state governments is insufficient and alone will not achieve the objectives of the action (the sufficiency criterion);
· The action must bring added value over and above what could be achieved by individual or member-state government action alone (the benefit criterion);
· Decisions should be taken as closely as possible to the citizen (the close to the citizen criterion);
· The action should secure greater freedoms for the individual (the autonomy criterion).
Subsidiarity is linked to the principle of “sovereignty”, whereby each level of authority and responsibility has its own ambit of autonomous responsibility, interacting in a relationship of subsidiarity where the highest authority has a subsidiary function, performing only those tasks which cannot be performed effectively at a more immediate or local level. This is contrary to a vertical pyramid-like relationship where the highest level (the richest, most powerful) commands the lower levels (the poorest, the weakest). The principle of subsidiarity holds that government should undertake only those initiatives which exceed the capacity of individuals or private groups acting independently. It is based upon the autonomy and dignity of the human individual, and holds that all other forms of society, from the family to the state and the international order, should be in the service of the human person. Subsidiarity assumes that these human persons are by their nature social beings, and emphasizes the importance of small and intermediate-sized communities or institutions, like the family, the church, and voluntary associations, as mediating structures which empower individual action and link the individual to society as a whole. "Positive subsidiarity", which is the ethical imperative for communal, institutional or governmental action to create the social conditions necessary to the full development of the individual, such as the right to work, decent housing, health care, etc., is another important aspect of the subsidiarity principle. For example, the relationship between the three major agencies in the EU countries, state, church and family, is that of subsidiarity. These are independent but reciprocally necessary and giving added value to each other.
In fact, it is in adherence to the principle of subsidiarity that the EU searches for partners, in international cooperation initiatives, that have proven sector-specific competence, substantial economic linkages and trust built with the community they intend to serve. The concept of subsidiarity is central to EU’s relationship with governments and civil society in international cooperation partner countries and is a concrete demonstration of partners working for a common objective, contrary to the concept of sub-contracting. It is contrary to the principle of sub-contracting. Contributing to project costs is therefore not just an administrative requirement for project management but a certification that the NGO partner is interested in and able to build a subsidiarity relationship with the EU. [4]
[1] The word subsidiarity is derived from the Latin word subsidiarius and has its origins in Catholic social teaching. The concept or principle is found in several constitutions around the world (see for example the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution). The principle of subsidiarity was developed in the encyclical Rerum Novarum of 1891 by Pope Leo XIII, as an attempt to articulate a middle course between the excesses of laissez-faire capitalism on the one hand and the various forms of communism, which subordinate the individual to the state, on the other. The principle was further developed in Pope Pius XI's encyclical Quadragesimo Anno of 1931, and Economic Justice for All by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
[2] Article 9 of the proposed European constitution states that “Under the principle of subsidiarity, in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Union shall act only if and insofar as the objectives of the intended action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States, either at central level or at regional and local level, but can rather, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved at Union level.” A more descriptive analysis of the principle can be found in Protocol 30 to the EC Treaty.
[3] See also Protocol 30 to the Treaty establishing the European Community; Protocol to the draft European constitution on the application of the principles of Subsidiarity and Proportionality.
[4] See also Horizontal subsidiarity - http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/areas/industrialrelations/dictionary/definitions/horizontalsubsidiarity.htm
Il principio di sussidiarita’ e’ quello per cui diversi ordini di responsabilita’ non devono essere in una situazione verticale in cui il piu’ grande (o piu ricco, ecc.) deve comandare al piu’ piccolo (piu’ povero, ecc); e piu’ grandi non devono essere semplicemente rappresentanti della somma degli interessi di piccoli; i livelli di potere devono ognuno avere il proprio ambito di responsabilita’ autonoma e una sussidiarieta’ cioe’ un “reciprocal recognition and empowerement” perche’ hanno un interesse “solidare” (cioe’ si vince o si perde insieme).
Enzo: Ciao Stefano, I termini vanno bene, e’ in burocratichese, ed ha due significati uno generalissimo di fare le cose cercando sinergie e ad aiutando e colmando vuoti, sia in termini economici che in termini di qualita Ed uno europeo burocratico che ti invio in Inglese: che dice di fare le cose che non fanno i paesi beneficiari, o se le fa meglio allora di farle attenendosi pero al limite del raggiungimento degli obiettivi del trattato
The principle of subsidiarity is defined in Article 5 of the Treaty establishing the European Community. It is intended to ensure that decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizen and that constant checks are made as to whether action at Community level is justified in the light of the possibilities available at national, regional or local level. Specifically, it is the principle whereby the Union does not take action (except in the areas which fall within its exclusive competence) unless it is more effective than action taken at national, regional or local level. It is closely bound up with the principles of proportionality and necessity, which require that any action by the Union should not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the objectives of the Treaty.
From EC web site
The Edinburgh European Council of December 1992 issued a declaration on the principle of subsidiarity, which lays down the rules for its application. The Treaty of Amsterdam took up the approach that follows from this declaration in a Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality annexed to the EC Treaty. Two of the things this Protocol introduces are the systematic analysis of the impact of legislative proposals on the principle of subsidiarity and the use, where possible, of less binding Community measures.
The draft European Constitution provides for enhancing the principle of subsidiarity, in particular by obliging the EU institutions to inform national parliaments at all stages of the legislative procedure. The establishing of an "early-warning" system regarding respect for the subsidiarity principle will enable national parliaments to ask the Commission to review a legislative proposal if they consider that it violates the principle.
see aslo EU sectorial approach
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Subsidiarity is the principle which states that matters ought to be handled by the smallest (or, the lowest) competent authority. The Oxford English Dictionary defines subsidiarity as the idea that a central authority should have a subsidiary function, performing only those tasks which cannot be performed effectively at a more immediate or local level. The concept is applicable in the fields of government, political science, cybernetics and management. Subsidiarity is, ideally or in principle, one of the features of federalism.
The word subsidiarity is derived from the Latin word subsidiarius and has its origins in Catholic social teaching. The concept or principle is found in several constitutions around the world (see for example the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution).
It is presently best known as a fundamental principle of European Union law. According to this principle, the EU may only act (i.e. make laws) where member states agree that action of individual countries is insufficient. The principle was established in the 1992 Treaty of Maastricht, and is contained within the proposed new Treaty establishing a constitution for Europe. However, at the local level it was already a key element of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, an instrument of the Council of Europe promulgated in 1985 (see Article 4, Paragraph 3 of the Charter
Catholic social teaching
The principle of subsidiarity holds that government should undertake only those initiatives which exceed the capacity of individuals or private groups acting independently. The principle is based upon the autonomy and dignity of the human individual, and holds that all other forms of society, from the family to the state and the international order, should be in the service of the human person. Subsidiarity assumes that these human persons are by their nature social beings, and emphasizes the importance of small and intermediate-sized communities or institutions, like the family, the church, and voluntary associations, as mediating structures which empower individual action and link the individual to society as a whole. "Positive subsidiarity", which is the ethical imperative for communal, institutional or governmental action to create the social conditions necessary to the full development of the individual, such as the right to work, decent housing, health care, etc., is another important aspect of the subsidiarity principle.
The principle of subsidiarity was developed in the encyclical Rerum Novarum of 1891 by Pope Leo XIII, as an attempt to articulate a middle course between the excesses of laissez-faire capitalism on the one hand and the various forms of communism, which subordinate the individual to the state, on the other. The principle was further developed in Pope Pius XI's encyclical Quadragesimo Anno of 1931, and Economic Justice for All by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
European Union law
Subsidiarity was established in EU law by the Treaty of Maastricht, signed on 7 February 1992 and entered into force on 1 November 1993. The present formulation is contained in Article 5 of the Treaty Establishing the European Community (consolidated version following the Treaty of Nice, which entered into force on 1 February 2003):
The Community shall act within the limits of the powers conferred upon it by this Treaty and of the objectives assigned to it therein.
In areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence, the Community shall take action, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community.
Any action by the Community shall not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the objectives of this Treaty.
A more descriptive analysis of the principle can be found in Protocol 30 to the EC Treaty.
Article 9 of the proposed European constitution states
Under the principle of subsidiarity, in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Union shall act only if and insofar as the objectives of the intended action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States, either at central level or at regional and local level, but can rather, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved at Union level.
Formally, the principle of subsidiarity applies to those areas where the Community does not have exclusive competence, the principle delineating those areas where the Community should and should not act. In practice, the concept is frequently used in a more informal manner in discussions as to which competences should be given to the Community, and which retained for the Member States alone.
The concept of subsidiarity therefore has both a legal and a political dimension. Consequently, there are varying views as to its legal and political consequences, and various criteria are put forward explaining the content of the principle. For example:
· The action must be necessary because actions of individuals or member-state governments alone will not achieve the objectives of the action (the sufficiency criterion)
· The action must bring added value over and above what could be achieved by individual or member-state government action alone (the benefit criterion).
· Decisions should be taken as closely as possible to the citizen (the close to the citizen criterion)
· The action should secure greater freedoms for the individual (the autonomy criterion).
The European Union, however, has as part of its phraseology a call for "an ever-closer union." What restraints upon the progress of centralised decision making would be brought about by strict reference to the principle of subsidiarity have yet to be proven by major constitutional clashes.
See also on Wikipedia
Other External links
· Protocol 30 to the Treaty establishing the European Community.
· Protocol to the draft European constitution on the application of the principles of Subsidiarity and Proportionality.
· Catechism section on Subsidiarity.