European Union Exam
member states. (It mirrors the 10th amendment to the US constitution, which
declares that powers not delegated to the federal government by the
constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the stutes or to the
people,) ..
Subsidiarity. By this principle, the EU can only act in areas that do not fall under
its exclusive competence if the action needed cannot be better taken by the
member states. In other words, the EU should only do what it does best,
ProportlonalIty. This principle establishes that the EU should not go beyond taking
the action needed to achieve the objectives of the treaties. But just where that
line is drawn, of course, is a matter for debate.
• Council of Europe (1949) – Inter-governmental regional organization
to achieve a ‘greater unity between its Members by discussion …
and agreements’ (Eur. Conv. Of Hum. Rights)
• ECSC (1951) – Strong potential for cooperation, ‘above states’
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