PRIN2017 - Where is Europe going? Paths and prospectives of the European federalizing process

The purpose of this project is to understand the real perspectives of the integration process through a scientific analysis of those that are, at the same time, its fundamental and problematic aspects.

Has been decided to investigate some mains research profiles: the problem of “identity and values”; the social and economic policy; the territory; the European institutions.

The Bologna unit aims at both reconstructing the supranational-oriented economic competences and laying down the basis in order that a European social protection may follow to the development of a common economy, this in order to formulate proposals for the revision of the EU Treaties. To join this target, the research intends to rationalize the experiences of the last 15 years in order to reconstruct the foundations of a different economic-financial integration, capable of taking on unitary political and social goals. In this respect we intend to:

  • rebuild the competences of economic nature at supranational level, whose retention in full scope at the level of Member States represents an obstacle to the development of a European economy, coordinated by a European government of economy. To the development of a common economy must follow a European social protection, as these two fields are interdependent, also taking into account the fact that the recent “European pillar of social rights” does not seem to be have any effectiveness at the moment, being more a declaration of intent than a concrete measure. Indeed, it is necessary to provide the EU with suitable instruments apt to manage the interdependence between Member States and its consequences, especially in the social field (i.e. more flexibility in the choice of state policies and, at the same time, common policies). In addition to rebuilding the existing legal framework, further attention will be paid to practice and case- law which in many sectors (e.g. tax law and social rights fields) seem to have established themselves as the main current sources of law. In this respect, case- law of the Courts of some Member States will be analysed in order to identify the balance between constitutional principles and the impact on social rights by European obligations. 
  • secondly, assess, the possibility to redesign, by applying the results of the first part of the research, and through the investigation of different models and the asymmetry reduction among legal systems, the role of European Institutions in such areas and their cooperation schemes with the Member States and the regional governments, also in order to formulate concrete proposals to amend the Treaties.
  • analyse certain specific areas (e.g.) in order to specify and integrate the results obtained through the general legal analysis

Principal Investigator

Research Unit Coordinator of the University of Bologna

Andrea Morrone

Full Professor

Members of the research group

Gilberto Antonelli

Emeritus Professor

Adjunct professor

Chiara Bologna

Associate Professor

Corrado Caruso

Associate Professor

Giacomo Di Federico

Full Professor

Riccardo Leoncini

Full Professor

Diletta Tega

Full Professor

Scientific Production