Structure

The participating states still keep their international sovereignty. They can finalize international treaties and they can pass their own laws.

But they agreed in these treaties, to harmonize their actions with respect to third countries and they agreed, to transform the law of the union into national law.

The complex of these many agreements is regarded as an entity, and a newly joining state, has to accept all of the agreements as an entity. The participating states cannot disregard a single one.

It is so far not clear, if it is possible, that a single state can leave the union and which consequences will follow, if a state would decide to leave.

So far the only authority is a pure legal one and bears only financial consequences for the states.

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last modified: 05/30/06 13:43