Subsidiär

Subsidiær is an adjective used in Danish and Norwegian to denote something that is secondary, auxiliary, or supplementary to a main provision, organization, or authority. The term originates from Latin subsidium meaning aid or support and has entered Scandinavian legal language through Latin and French loanwords. In law and public administration, subsidiær describes provisions, roles, or bodies that operate only if the primary framework does not address a matter. For example, subsidiære bestemmelser act as a fallback, and subsidiær myndighet denotes a secondary authority that assists the principal administration.

In organizational and governance contexts, a subsidiær function or unit refers to elements that support core activities rather than drive them. The distinction between primær and subsidiær helps clarify responsibilities and the hierarchy within institutions.

The concept is closely related to subsidiarity, a governance principle that decisions should be taken at the lowest feasible level. In Danish and Norwegian legal discourse, subsidiaritetsprincippet or subsidiaritetsprinsippet is used to discuss this principle in EU law and national practice. The term emphasizes a relational, structural role rather than economic aid.

Subsidiering, the Danish term for financial subsidy, is unrelated to subsidiær and can be a source of confusion; subsidies refer to funding, whereas subsidiær concerns structure, function, and hierarchy.