The (European) principle of subsidiarity in relation to local autonomy

Abstract

In the light of the decentralisation thought, the role and influence of local authorities has steadily increased in the last decades. At the same time the question remained which competences local authorities have. This question is a question of local autonomy. In order to clarify the idea of local autonomy, the paper will pay attention to the principle of subsidiarity. This principle is not only an important principle in the EU, but also an important principle to define the autonomy of local authorities. It is one of the key elements in the European Charter of Local Self-Government. With this in mind the paper discusses both principles and their relation to each other in order to define ‘local autonomy’.