Subsidiarity in the EU and Federalism Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Subsidiarity in the EU and Federalism - Thesis Example tem of governance with substate/s autonomously operating in a decentralized manner and yet still connected to central government in a collaborative governance. From the historical vantage, the principle of subsidiarity was first introduced by the Treaty of Maastricht, also known as Treaty of European Union (TEU) signed at Maastricht town in 1991, with its elaborate applications explicated through the protocol stipulated in the Treaty of Amsterdam (Eurofound, 2010a). This was perceived to be the turning point of EU integration (Eurofound, 2010a). This paper aims to discuss the theory of subsidiarity of Britain within the light of Germany and United States experiences. The TEU offered a commitment from the European Council (EC) to full Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), provision for European Central Bank, and the establishment of the ‘three-pillar’ structures. These pillars are the European Council, Common Foreign and Security Policy, and Cooperation in Justice and Home Affairs (Eurofound, 2010a). Under EMU, the definition of community was broadened to include the convergence of economic laws, social protection, and of the development of socio-economic cohesion (Eurofound, 2010a). The council have also set monetary policy, coordination with convergence criteria and a single currency (Eurofound, 2010a). Anent thereto was the establishment of institutional reform increased the legislative power of the parliament with the introduction of co-decision processes (Eurofound, 2010a). The Treaty of Amsterdam, on the other hand, was signed on 2 October 1997 by the Foreign Ministers of 15 EU member states and became effective when they ratified this in accordance to their constitutional policies (Eurofound, 2010b). The Treaty of Amsterdam of 1997 substantially amended the three pillar structure of Treaty on European Union to include relevant matters on employment and industrial relations; the acquis  of the 1985 Schengen Treaty pertaining to gradual abolition of common