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Federalism: A Normative Theory and its Practical Relevance

regard—misguided. This seems to be particularly true since the US encountered constitutional conflicts very similar to those the EU is faced with today. After an extensive analysis of the constitutional and the comparative dimensions, the third and final part of this book deals with the institutional dimension. For that purpose, Chapter 5 surveys the historical development and importance of the artificial term ‘Treaty Architecture’, deriving from the ‘Spinelli Treaty’ and referring to the innovative way in which the EU’s various treaties are arranged and related to each other. In the course of his analysis, de Witte demonstrates in a convincing manner that the EU has undergone a curious change during its short but eventful treaty history; unfortunately without ever realizing the primary objective of a federally integrated Europe. The author puts it aptly when stating that, today, the EU finds itself stuck in some kind of unresolved treaty paradox: with two separate treaties (the EU Treaty and the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU), establishing and regulating one organization (the EU), the ideas of simplification and closer integration seem to have been deferred to the unforeseeable future. Finally, Chapter 6 provides an indepth discussion of the EEC’s former President François Mitterrand and his role in the negotiations following the 1984 ‘Spinelli Treaty’. In this connection, Palayret calls into question Mitterrand’s sudden change of mind regarding the French’s attitude towards Europe, then being the most supportive during France’s entire history. Moreover, he makes absolutely evident that, once again, Spinelli’s ideas and provisions for a federally organized Europe were more prominent than ever before. This truly inspiring book brings together a very useful set of contributions and numerous topical references, thereby, on the one hand, piquing the readers’ interest with many new theses and propositions and, on the other hand, providing persuasive explanations. Albeit every chapter highlights different dimensions of federalism and constitutionalism from different perspectives, all of them point to one outstanding fact: no matter whether it be federalism or federalization, constitutionalism or constitutionalization, or maybe even both, Spinelli’s pre-eminent ideas for the creation of a European Federation will influence the European system throughout the next decades. Not least due to this apparently timeless significance as well as the wide range of potential readers covered—politicians, economists and lawyers, practitioners and academics alike—this book will merit a place on many reading lists.