European Union affairs and the scrutiny of the principle of subsidiarity in the Parliament of the Czech Republic
Abstract
This paper summarizes and evaluates the Czech Parliament's involvement in EU affairs. It briefly summarizes the relevant legal regulation and describes the practice in both chambers.
The focus is on the implementation of Protocol No. 2 on the Application of the Principles of Subsidiarity and Proportionality, annexed to the EU Treaties, especially on the parliamentary practice regarding the 'subsidiarity check' (early warning mechanism) and the arguments employed by both chambers in the reasoned opinions according to Article 6 of Protocol No. 2 they have adopted so far. The main conclusion is that both chambers employ a broad interpretation of the scope of subsidiarity checks.
In the final part, the paper also mentions the ongoing developments regarding national parliaments' position in the EU and their reflection by the Czech Parliament.