INTEGRAREA EUROPEANĂ PRIN PRISMA FEDERALIZĂRII UNIUNII EUROPENE

Abstract

The article explores the evolution of the idea of European federalism and the federalist movement in the first half of the 20th century, highlighting the concept of “Europeanism” as a political and ideological expression of various visions of European unity. The research methods include historical and comparative analysis of documents and writings by theorists such as Immanuel Kant, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and William Penn, alongside the study of contributions from major post-war European political figures. The main findings underscore the role of the Treaty of Paris (1951) and the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Atomic Energy Community, and the European Economic Community in shaping contemporary European federalism. The paper emphasizes the challenges of implementing federalism, such as harmonizing national legislations and the competencies of national governments with those of the European Union. Additionally, the success of EU federalization depends on respecting the historical, economic, and cultural traditions of member states and maintaining a balance between Union and national competencies to mitigate centrifugal forces and stimulate cooperation.