The principle of subsidiarity is set out in the treaty establishing the European Union. It is intended to ensure that actions to respond to a given problem are taken at the most appropriate level of government. See also. Often, reference to subsidiarity is meant to signify that the Union should defer power to the states whenever that is reasonable.
Under the principle of subsidiarity, the Union may only act if objectives cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States, either at national or local level, or where, because of scale, they can be better achieved at Union level.
Transfer of certain tasks of general interest to the civil society with responsibilities at a hierarchical level (minimizing economic costs and maximizing social welfare). Subsidiarity entails that each member of the social group involved shall organize their own actions towards an end that must remain part of the objectives pursued by the entire group (Babin et al., 1998).
The principle that all EU decisions should be taken at the most local level which is practicable. Only transnational matters are the domain of the European Institutions. Term much loved by former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
In the European Union, subsidiarity is a rule whereby action by EU institutions is only permissible if it is necessary to achieve the proper purposes of such action, i.e. if these purposes cannot be sufficiently achieved by institutions of individual States acting independently. Subsidiarity is an application of the principle of proportionality.
According to the principle of subsidiarity, within a system of governance, decisions should be taken at the lowest possible level, provided that goals such as safety and environmental protection are secured.
The principle whereby the EU does not take action unless it is more effective than similar action taken at a national, regional or local level. (The only exception to this general rule is policy areas which fall within the exclusive competence of the EU.)
The principle by which the EC acts only when an objective can be better achieved at the supranational level and the means employed by the EC is proportional to the desired objective.
The EU principle that decisions should be taken at the lowest possible level.
The principle that an issue should be managed as close as is reasonable to its source.
According to this principle, progressive decentralisation of the powers of central authorities in favour of local agencies closer to the needs of citizens, actions are implemented aimed at the socio-economic sphere.
Subsidiarity is the principle which states that matters ought to be handled by the smallest (or, the lowest) competent authority. The Oxford English Dictionary defines subsidiarity as the idea that a central authority should have a subsidiary function, performing only those tasks which cannot be performed effectively at a more immediate or local level. The concept is applicable in the fields of government, political science, cybernetics and management.