Has Europe become a federal superstate?

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Europe has become a federal superstate. Discuss.

When discussing the idea of a European superstate, one has to both consider the level of intergovernmentalism within the European Union, and also its increasing federal nature. Whilst it is not clearly defined either way, there may be a growing trend towards one direction.

Federalism is a formal organisation or union which includes within itself a collection of subordinate states. Full autonomy and control comes from a centralised government that has greater or more extensive governmental power than those governments which make up the federation. Subsidiarity, the principle whereby decisions are taken by higher or centralised government only where they cannot be taken at a lower level, is key to the question of Europe becoming a federal super state. At present, subsidiarity is vital to the makeup of the EU and may come to define the current era of European Union.

There are many examples that suggest that Europe is moving towards becoming a federal body, primarily the widening and ascension of the Euro and the single monetary zone, which has become increasingly dominant and important since its appearance in 2002. The Lisbon Treaty, which will be discussed later, has served to further entrench its existence as the single European currency. With a single currency, except Denmark and the UK who have opt-outs, the possibility for a federal superstate is far more likely. Centralised banks and supranational economic institutions pin down the possibility of a supranational government and entity as a whole. Within the USA, the single currency across all the states was a prerequisite for federalism. Furthermore with a single currency and a single trade area, states of the EU can trade with each other without tariffs, sanctions or limitations. The free movement of people within different members of the EU is another sign of federalism, as the very concept or notion of the nation state and borders is decreased. For the purposes of international recognition and definitional basis, one is considered European in terms of legislation. During the economic crisis of 2008, the existence of the single currency meant that the old realist theories of self interest and game theory did not materialise. Without the Monetary Union, many of the members of the Union would have adjusted their currencies through monetary policy such as changing interest rates or devaluing (as the UK did), in order to compete economically. They could not do this because of the Euro, and as a result their recovery has been quicker than perhaps it may have been.

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The concept of supremacy is key to European federalism, as it is supremacy which affects the national sovereignty of legislation within the domestic political system of the member states. If national legislation comes into conflict with European Law or directives; it is the national sovereignty which will cede to supranational law. A prime example of this was the Factortame case in 1991. This case about fishing rights and legislation was a key case regarding EU supranationalism. The Courts of the UK and the House of Lords found that where national legislation came into conflict with European Community Law, domestic ...

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