The limited modesty of subsidiarity

This paper provides an account of the European principle of subsidiarity that presents it as a principle of democratic structuring: engaging both with the allocation of powers to existing democratic institutions and with the creation of new democratic institutions. In the process of discussing the European principle, a contrast is drawn with the Catholic principle of subsidiarity and with the rival doctrine of national self-determination. It is argued that the European principle is a central part of the Union's constitutional identity, and, as such, crucial to an understanding of the European project.The full-text of this article is not currently available in ORA, but you may be able to access the article via the publisher copy link on this record page. Citation: Barber, N. W. (2005). 'The limited modesty of subsidiarity', European Law Journal, 11(3), 308-325. [Available at http://www.wiley.com/bw/journal.asp?ref=1351-5993&site=1]. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd