Cooperation Between Autonomous Communities: An Opportunity to Rationalise the Autonomous State in Times of Crisis

Abstract

Autonomous Communities involvement in national decision-making and cooperation between State and Autonomous Communities tends to be cited as one of the major weaknesses of the Autonomous State. Within this particular situation, horizontal relations between the various Autonomous Communities pose somewhat of a paradox. On the one hand, they are the only kind of relations set out in the Constitution, albeit from a standpoint of cautious unease towards the Autonomous Communities, through express mention of the legal mechanisms on which such relations are based: cooperation accords and agreements (Art. 145.2 of the Spanish Constitution: On the other hand, a look at the past 30 years of the Autonomous State reveals how little such relations have been used by the Autonomous Communities the most important thing is achieving a legal-political solution that merges institutionalisation and flexibility, regulating the legal system of cooperation through regional laws, and fostering its implementation in all Autonomous Communities or certain groups thereof via agreements between them. Autonomous Communities have tended to deal with the central administration individually. Adopting such abottom-up approach would surely have a knock-on effect amongst other Autonomous Communities and would herald a major step forward in the effort to rationalise the Autonomous State at a time of deep crisis like the present.