Jäsenvaltiolla

Jäsenvaltiolla is a Finnish phrase that literally translates to “in a member state” or “as a member state.” It is used primarily in legal, political, and administrative contexts to refer to actions, regulations, or statuses that apply within a country that is a member of an international organization, most commonly the European Union. The term reflects the distinction between national (jäsenvaltiollinen) or state-level implementation and the broader supranational framework that governs the organization's policies.

In European Union law, for example, directives issued by the EU must be transposed into national legislation by each jäsenvaltio. The phrase is often seen in the preamble of laws, regulations, and official documents to emphasize that the rules are being applied within the specific jurisdiction of a member state, rather than across all member states simultaneously. It underscores the principle of subsidiarity, whereby decision‑making is delegated to the lowest effective level.

The word combines the noun “jäsen” (member), the genitive suffix “-n”, and the word “valtio” (state), with the prepositional suffix “–llä” indicating location or context. Thus, jäsenvaltiolla is a compound that succinctly conveys that something is performed within or by a member state.