Abstract

Abstract: In the academic literature the European Union (EU) is analysed from different theoretical perspectives. Taking the perspective of international relations, the EU emerges as an international organization or a confederation; on the other hand, looking from the perspective of comparative politics, the EU presents itself as a more integrated entity, a federation, a quasi-state or a state in the making. The recent perspective, i.e. the governance school, sees the EU as an original structure, a sui generis entity, a new, emerging system of governance without government. However, at the present stage of development, the EU reveals features that are characteristic for the federal structure, i.e. the federal political system characterised by two leading models of dual and cooperative federalism, hence the comparative method seems to be the most appropriate as a research tool.

Highlights

  • The European Union is a relatively new phenomenon, starting in the 1950s from three Communities, i.e. European Coal and Steel Community (1951), European Economic Community (1957) and European Atomic Energy Community (1957)

  • The European Communities were based on a functional rationale, namely the cooperation in chosen, strategic fields, which spread to other areas according to the neofunctional approach

  • Is the European Union an international organization since it is based on an international treaty; is it a quasi-state entity, i.e. a federation because it carries out tasks previously assigned to states or is it a sui generis structure, without any equivalent? The answer to this question is important and varies depending on the perspective adopted

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Summary

Introduction

The European Union is a relatively new phenomenon, starting in the 1950s from three Communities, i.e. European Coal and Steel Community (1951), European Economic Community (1957) and European Atomic Energy Community (1957).

Results
Conclusion

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