The principle of subsidiarity in the EU and Malta’s local councils

Abstract

[...] The foundations of EU values and their contested interpretations, as well as the Union’s changing position in sport, are all thoroughly examined in the literature review. It includes academic arguments on the moral foundations of the EU, emphasising the legal and political framing of values like democracy, inclusivity, and solidarity. In parallel, it examines research on football governance and the indirect regulatory impact of the EU, especially through its collaboration with UEFA and landmark cases. A comprehensive understanding of the connections between values and football is made possible by this dual perspective. In the following chapter, the methodology used to answer the main research topic is laid out. It supports the selection of an exploratory, qualitative design in which document analysis serves as the main technique for gathering data. Over a 30-year period, from the Bosman ruling in 1995 until 2025, the chapter describes how case studies, institutional records, judicial decisions, and campaign materials will be examined. This creates a framework for identifying both structural mechanisms, like governance improvements, and symbolic manifestations of values, like anti-racism campaigns. The analysis chapter serves as the dissertation’s main analytical element. It views UEFA competitions to be both platforms for cohesion as well as venues of conflict. Using initiatives like the ‘Respect’ and ‘Equal Game’ campaigns and co-hosting agreements that demonstrate European collaboration, the chapter demonstrates how these competitions have fostered integration, inclusion, and transnational identity. On the other hand, it draws attention to enduring conflicts that challenge the EU’s normative objectives, like nationalism, commercialisation, and governance opacity. The chapter also highlights paradoxes, exposing the difficulty of using sport to promote common values, such as the coexistence of division and integration within UEFA competitions. The dissertation then concludes by summarising the findings, evaluating their broader implications, and outlining any potential options for any future research. It evaluates if EU values are promoted by UEFA competitions or if they are more frequently used as a tool for branding and political credibility. The dissertation adds to current discussions regarding the significance of sport in European identity and integration by examining the positive and negative aspects of the link between football and the EU. When compiled together, these chapters provide a thorough analysis of how football serves as an instrument for observing, evaluating, and contesting the EU’s normative objectives. Cruyff’s argument to restore football’s values is both applicable and timely in the European context. As the research shows, the sport is not only a cultural element but also a highly political arena where identity, governance, and values come together.