Federal power-sharing in the European Union

The European Union (EU) is a union of states, but whether it is or should ever be a federal union is one of the most contentious questions. For some, the EU already displays the main features of federation. For others, it is and it should remain an international organization, although a particularly densely institutionalized one. For most, federalism is one of several theoretical frameworks that may help discuss the present and imagine the future state of the Union without necessarily pre-judging its final shape. In the political – as opposed to the academic – debate, the word federalism excites heated passions, either pro or against. In this contribution, while necessarily hinting at the academic debate, I will concentrate on “the state of the Union” and see which elements of its current institutional architecture and mode of functioning point in the direction of a federal structure of sorts. I will also examine other concepts that, because of their descriptive neutrality, have gained increased currency in EU studies, first and foremost multi-level governance. I will, moreover, concentrate on the institutional provisions and the policies that sustain a federal or multi-level vision of Europe, and will assess the extent to which both allow for the inclusive and effective participation of institutional and societal actors at all jurisdictional levels in EU policy-making. I will conclude by pointing to what appears to be the most pressing issue for the Union: to articulate a normative justification that can underpin its legitimacy both among European citizens and in the wider international community.