The principle of sincere cooperation in European Union Law

Abstract

The principle of sincere cooperation is one of the most significant constitutional principles of the legal order of the European integration. The present article answers the question what the essence of the principle of sincere cooperation is, what its application is and what similarities and differences it reveals in comparison with the principles of good faith in international law and the principle of federal loyalty known in the law of some federal states. The main obligations that the principle of sincere cooperation entails for Member States and European institutions are also examined. The importance of the principle of sincere cooperation as an original element of the law of European integration is thus outlined, reflecting the particular nature of the European Union as a new kind of federal formation and ensuring that both the Member States and the EU institutions always act in accordance with the common interest of ensuring the effective application of the legal framework established for the realisation of the European project.

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