Sovranazionale

Sovranazionale is a term used in political science and contemporary political discourse to describe a form of governance or political order in which authority is exercised at a level above the national state. It refers to arrangements in which some sovereign powers are transferred from individual states to a higher, transnational authority through binding agreements and institutions. The concept is closely linked to the idea of supranational governance, in contrast to purely intergovernmental cooperation or to federal systems where sovereignty remains largely rooted in constituent states.

A principal example commonly associated with sovranazionale dynamics is the European Union, whose treaties grant certain competences to EU institutions (such as the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Court of Justice) that can override national laws in defined areas, including the single market, competition policy, and regulatory frameworks. Other regional blocs and integration proposals may display supranational characteristics to varying degrees, but most retain some level of intergovernmental decision-making.

In practice, supranational arrangements involve binding rules, independent institutions, and mechanisms of enforcement that operate above the national level. Proponents emphasize benefits such as economic integration, policy coherence, and collective security, while critics point to potential democratic legitimacy gaps, loss of national sovereignty, and the risk of over-centralization.

usage of sovranazionale varies by context and perspective: it can describe a deliberate transfer of powers to a higher authority or be used in debates about the extent to which regional bodies should or do exercise sovereign-like powers. See also: supranational organization, sovereignty, federalism, international law, regional integration.