NellUnione

nellUnione is a term used in political science and sociolinguistic contexts to refer to the imagined or theoretical space of governance and identity within the European Union. The name combines Italian elements, with nell' meaning “in the” and Unione meaning “Union,” signaling a focus on interior coordination and collective action within a union framework.

In scholarly usage, nellUnione denotes an integrated framework that spans policy domains such as economic policy, immigration, and cultural exchange, emphasizing coordination across member states while preserving national sovereignty to varying degrees. It is used to analyze how supranational institutions, such as the European Commission or the European Parliament, interact with national and subnational bodies, and how policy alignment across borders is achieved or contested.

History and usage of the term emerged primarily in Italian-language discussions of European integration from the 1990s onward. It is often discussed in debates about the depth of integration beyond the single market. Some texts use nellUnione to describe aspirational scenarios of closer union, while others employ it as a critical concept to highlight tensions between regional cohesion and national autonomy.

In practice, nellUnione is not a formal organization but a lens for examining policy coordination, cross-border governance, and shared regulatory frameworks, including joint projects such as regional development funds or common standards. Critics may argue that the concept underplays differences among member states, while supporters view it as a useful shorthand for studying union-wide coordination.

See also: European Union, Supranationalism, European integration, Subsidiarity.