Page 2 - The European Union Supranationalism
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In his view, the future Europe should have been built like “a clock, which gets into
action through synchronized work of delicate and complex elements”. In this context,
Michel Mouskhely gives a comprehensive analysis of legislative and administrative
techniques which, in practice, have become essential ingredients of functioning of the
European Union.
In his work, Michel Mouskhely offers ideas and makes predictions which truly
surprise by their precision and forward-looking character. In 1949, long before the EU was
created, he put forward very specific legal and institutional provisions which have been
introduced in the Union in different years and under diverse circumstances. In „L’Europe
face au fédéralisme“ he discusses innovative ideas and complex topics such as: the power-
sharing between the EU institutions and the member states; the Precedence Principle -
Primacy of the EU law over national laws of Union’s members; Using unanimity voting rule
for specific issues which relate to amending of EU founding treaties, the EU common
foreign and security policy, taxation and the EU budget; EU judiciary system, EU law-
making and monitoring of implementation of the EU law; the legal personality of the
European Union; democracy and fundamental rights in the EU; EU institutional
arrangement, EU decision-making and competence-sharing among EU institutions;
composition of legislative, executive and judicial branches of the future of Europe;
composition and functioning of supranational European commission; Accession and
withdrawal from the Union; the European citizenship; EU diplomatic service and
functioning of its diplomatic representations; European economy, monetary policy and
common currency, funding of the EU budget; etc.
The above-mentioned topics are just a part of all issues which Michel Mouskhely
addresses in his breathtaking publication. Already in 1949, he managed to describe specific
details of functioning of the EU with an amazing precision. In fact, he created “an
algorithm” for explaining the European Supranationalism. Michel Mouskhely gave deep
theoretical analysis and useful practical recommendations on legal and institutional
elements of the future united Europe. In the following years, his ideas were echoed by
various historic documents, such as, for instance, the Schuman Declaration of 1950.
Indisputable, works of the French statesman of Georgian descent played a leading
role in creating theoretical foundations for the European Integration process. His ideas
stimulated development of the European political thinking and pushed European founding
fathers toward a common vision for the Unified Europe. His legacy until today inspires
contemporary researchers to look back into origins of the European Integration and
elaborate new ideas for a more inclusive, efficient and resolute Union.
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