Subsidiarity as a Moral, Philosophical and Legal Category

In the paper subsidiarity is considered in two contexts: Moral-philosophical and legal. Both aspects are synergistic, predetermining the dynamic and ambiguous nature of subsidiarity as a principle aimed at better attainment of the objective by mutual assistance and mutual support of the actors of power relations. Do not take away from the others what they can do themselves! This is the moral and ethical quintessence of subsidiarity and the most important value aspect of its practical application. Without denying their Catholic roots and philosophical nature, today subsidiarity predominantly serves as a competency principle in multi-level decision-making systems that always raise the question concerning the best (appropriate) level of exercising jointly shared powers. By including the principle of subsidiarity in its primary law and consistently developing it in the provisions of constituent treaties, the European Union (EU) has shown to the entire world community practical ways to apply this principle in order to qualitatively improve the supranational legislation that regulates the issues jointly implemented by the EU Member States. Without going into an in-depth analysis of the substantive content of the principle of subsidiarity, the author pays particular attention to the procedural aspects of the practical application of the principle of subsidiarity in the EU law as justification for the need to implement regulatory EU prerogatives (to be included in the preamble to EU draft laws) and the subsidiary control mechanism (implemented by national parliaments with regard to the EU draft laws). A judicial aspect of practical application of the principle of subsidiarity is also not overlooked. In the course of the study, the author assesses the effectiveness of the principle of subsidiarity in the EU as a legal category. The author concludes that in EU Law prevails a political approach to resolving disagreements between supranational and national law-makers regarding the correct application of the principle of subsidiarity in the EU legislative process. However, this does not in any way have a leveling effect on the legal relevance of the principle of subsidiarity in order to achieve the goals of better enforcement of the EU regulatory prerogatives.

subsidiarity, Catholicism, federalism, European Union, Court of Justice of the European Union, justification for the necessity to implement regulatory prerogatives, subsidiary control mechanism, national parliaments, political dialog

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