The post-crisis European Union before the political union: coordinates and keys of the future institutional architecture

Abstract

Historically, the European integration is a relatively recent process and in permanent evolution. Over time, the EU has moved from what is international towards what is political-constitutional. This last dimension has been stressed during the Euro crisis (bank union, fiscal…), in addition to becoming obvious to the citizens. The management of political conflicts requires political legitimacy and, consequently, the adjustment of institutional architecture. Apparently, now is the time to formalize the European political union. But, what type of union? It is mandatory to reflect on the basic political elements and on the institutional architecture such as federalism, distribution of competences, separation of powers or democracy. Moreover, the post-crisis European reality is characterized by the politicization and the constitutionalization of the EU. These elements constrain the institutional adaptation of the EU. Specifically, one of the keys is the establishment of guarantees for the articulation of multiple governments and institutions within the EU.

Históricamente, a integración europea é un proceso relativamente recente e en permanente evolución. Co paso do tempo, a UE pasou do internacional cara ao político-constitucional. Esta última dimensión foi salientada durante a crise do euro (unión bancaria, fiscal...), ademais de facerse evidente para os cidadáns. A xestión dos conflitos políticos require de lexitimidade política e, en consecuencia, do axuste da arquitectura institucional. Ao parecer, agora é o momento de formalizar a unión política europea. Pero, que tipo de unión? É obrigatorio reflexionar sobre os elementos políticos básicos e sobre a arquitectura institucional como o federalismo, a distribución de competencias, a separación de poderes ou a democracia. Ademais, a realidade europea post-crise caracterízase pola politización e a constitucionalización da UE. Estes elementos limitan a adaptación institucional da UE. En concreto, unha das claves é o establecemento de garantías para a articulación de múltiples gobernos e institucións dentro da UE.