The legal order of the EU combines both the features of a state as well as the features of an international organisation in a complex and novel way. It has a dual legal nature, because it tries to satisfy the interests of the member states in retaining sovereignty in conjunction with pursuing the combined interest of the states of creating an “ever closer union”. As a result, the EU eludes the standard theoretical models of either a federation or a confederation and is instead famously characterised as a “sui generis” polity. In this thesis I therefore present the development of the dual legal nature of the Union and the gradual strengthening of federal elements within its constitutional structure. This historical view is complemented by an examination of federations and confederations as legal forms. With this analysis the various elements of the constitutional structure of the EU that correspond to either of the two legal forms are identified. In addition, the constitutional principles of the Union are presented and compared with federal principles found in federations. The role of the Court of the EU in the constitutional development of the Union is also examined and its position compared to the position of constitutional courts in federal states. In conclusion it will be shown, that the current hybrid nature of the Union is sub optimal, leading to deficiencies from the points of view of democracy and transparency as well as efficiency. The gradual final transformation of the Union into a federation is presented as the most viable long term solution.
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