supranationale

Supranationale is the feminine form in French of the adjective supranational. It denotes a level of political authority that operates above the level of individual nation-states. The term blends supra- (above) with national, referring to powers or institutions capable of creating rules that member states are obliged to follow, even against their national preferences. In academic and policy discourse, supranational authority arises when states transfer some sovereignty to a central body or framework that can adopt binding decisions, enforce them, and adjudicate disputes.

The concept is most closely associated with the European Union, where the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Court of Justice exercise competencies that can bind member states and individuals in many policy areas, from competition to trade to human rights. However, not all regional or international organizations are supranational; many operate on intergovernmental cooperation wherein decision-making requires consensus among member states and lacks independent enforcement capacity.

Debates around supranationale focus on legitimacy, accountability, and democratic representation, balanced against potential gains in policy coherence, market integration, and collective security. The term appears more commonly in French-language contexts, while English-language discourse typically uses supranational to describe the broader phenomenon of authority transcending nation-states.

This article provides a concise overview of the concept and its typical applications, particularly within European integration and comparative political science.