überstaatlichen

Überstaatlich is a term used in political science and international law to describe arrangements in which some power or authority is transferred from individual nation-states to a higher, supranational level. It denotes a form of governance where decisions in certain policy areas can be binding on member states, even if not all states agree.

The concept is often contrasted with intergovernmental cooperation, where states retain sovereignty and decisions require consensus or unanimity. In supranational systems, institutions can adopt rules, implement policies, and enforce compliance through courts or other mechanisms, reducing the veto power of individual states in the areas covered.

The European Union is the most prominent example discussed in this context. In several domains, such as competition law, the internal market, and, to varying degrees, monetary policy, supranational features prevail: EU institutions can adopt regulations and directives that member states are obliged to implement, and a supranational court system can interpret and enforce those rules. However, the EU also retains intergovernmental elements, particularly in areas like foreign and defense policy, where unanimity or broad consensus is often required and sovereignty is not wholly ceded.

The term überstaatlich is often used to describe institutions or arrangements labeled as supranational, including those in regional integration projects or international organizations that exercise authority beyond individual states. The corresponding noun forms include Überstaatlichkeit or supranational sovereignty in English.