van Zeben, Josephine --- "Local governments as subjects and objects of EU law: legitimate limits?" [2017] ELECD 929; in Bardutzky, Samo; Fahey, Elaine (eds), "Framing the Subjects and Objects of Contemporary EU Law" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017) 123

Book Title: Framing the Subjects and Objects of Contemporary EU Law

Editor(s): Bardutzky, Samo; Fahey, Elaine

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781786435736

Section: Chapter 7

Section Title: Local governments as subjects and objects of EU law: legitimate limits?

Author(s): van Zeben, Josephine

Number of pages: 22

Abstract/Description:

Local governments play important roles in the lives of European citizens by providing social services and acting as democratic focal points. These roles are increasingly shaped by European laws and policies, for example through the award of Regional Development Funds and the development of EU Urban Agenda. Member States consider the legal form and status of local governments to be part of their exclusive sphere of competence. This chapter investigates how local governments’ dependence on the Member States for their place in Europe jeopardizes the legitimation of governance in the EU by maintaining an artificial division between the national and EU’s spheres of influence. Keywords: Local government, participatory democracy, subsidiarity, legitimacy