Self-Determination in a Context of Shared Sovereignty

How to devise a European approach?

Publications / 16.12.20
Self-Determination in a Context of Shared Sovereignty

Demands for self-determination have long been associated with the European Union (EU), yet time has resolved neither their complexity nor their many inherent contradictions. Still today, a logic of unitary sovereignty prevails in the Union, putting nationalism and statehood on a collision course.

The EU has traditionally maintained that regional matters and the consequent participation of regions in European affairs are not a European subject but an internal matter for States. In addition, EU membership is limited to sovereign States meeting the Union’s admission criteria, and statehood therefore retains meaning for nationalists because it is the one means through which they can be recognised as sovereign equals in the polity.

But at a time when State functions are arguably waning or being profoundly transformed by authority re-scaling in the EU, it is urgent to clarify how the latter could offer the most appropriate template to meet the aspirations of stateless nations. The role of the EU in transforming the relationship between regions and central States could be improved. Today’s challenge is how to devise an institutional set-up that could render the participation of the authorities of all EU nations in the Union’s governance truly effective.

With this in mind, the book gathers the contributions of two practitioners and eight academics who took part in an international conference organised by the Coppieters Foundation in September 2019 in Brussels. The event was divided in four panels with distinctive, though complementary goals, and the present publication follows the same alignment, with the aim to suggest out-of-the-box solutions for all actors involved: the EU, States and national entities. Our hope is that these insights will inspire those curious enough to explore this field, and give tools to preserve European values in the process.

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This publication is financially supported by the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not liable for the content of the publication or the opinions of the authors.

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Header photo by Familia graphic design studio

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