Labirynty konceptualizowania Unii Europejskiej i suwerenności jej państw członkowskich
The labyrinths in theorising relating to the European Union and the sovereignty of its member states

Summary/Abstract: The author describes and summarises the main theories relating to the specificity of the European Union structure as an internally complex organism which is being characterised by scientists as an international organisation as well as a confederation and a federation. Many researchers compare the process of the European Union formation to the nation-state formation, others compare the E. U. to the United States of America and many more indicate that the E. U. structure with its specific multi-level governance looks like a neo-medieval empire. What we can see in this empire is a network of overlapping systems of powers and areas of loyalty. The author points out that structurally the E. U. can be visualised as a model of multilevel governance and as such can be defined as a sui generis political system. So it is not analogous to the nation state but rather to a system of governance without a formal governing body. This notion is the result of a growing level of interdependence one can see in the international arena. In the second part of article, the author addresses the sovereignty issues which relate to the E. U. member states as well as the E. U. as a separate body. He reviews the theories which variously explain the process of European integration and its influence on internal policies within member states.

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