Introduction. The application of the principle of subsidiarity in the European
Union raised the question of preserving national sovereignty in the decision making
of its members. The article considers approaches to the concept of sovereignty and
regionalization and attempts to apply the theoretical framework of sovereignty to
the existing model of decision making in the EU.
Materials and methods. The article uses a systematic method for assessing sov
ereignty in the structure of decision making in the EU, historical method to analyze
the concepts of sovereignty, a functional method for determining the limitations of
its application, a case analysis in assessing the manifestation of sovereignty by EU
subjects, content analysis of official statements and sources of the EU regulatory
framework that provides the possibility of exercising sovereignty.
Results of the study. The EU countries continue to exercise sovereignty, which
is especially evident in crisis situations, such as, for example, the COVID 19 pande
mic, migration crisis, information warfare when decision making at the level of na
tional governments is in place. Moreover, in the context of the EU, there is a legal
niche for the realization of sovereignty, the promotion of favorable terms of coope
ration for member states, in some cases there is a disregard for European norms.
Discussion. Sovereignty remains an essential aspect of politics, and becomes tan
gible when used. Against the backdrop of new challenges, such as regionalization, mi
gration, the coronavirus pandemic, new foundations for rapid decision making based
on sovereignty will be required. The discourse of the open market, which predeter
mined the analysis of integration processes in Europe, will be revised, and the prob
lem of sovereignty will be reconsidered.
Conclusion. The historical analysis of approaches to the concept of overeignty
shows its conventional and relative nature, and sovereignty manifests itself even in
the European regionalism.
Key words: sovereignty, the EU.
10.56429/2414-4894-2022-39-1-55-71