Introduction 

I. Existing Scholarship on the Subsidiarity Principle and National Parliaments 

II. Research Approach 

III. Structure 

1. The Subsidiarity Principle in the EU Treaties 

I. Introduction 

II. Characteristics of the Subsidiarity Principle 

III. Subsidiarity in Other Legal Systems 

IV. Subsidiarity in the EU Treaties 

V. Subsidiarity in the Court of Justice 

VI. Reasons for Introduction of the EWS 

VII. Conclusion 

2. The Involvement of National Parliaments and the EWS 

I. Introduction 

II. The Growing Role of National Parliaments in the EU Treaties 

III. The Design of the EWS 

IV. The 'Barroso Initiative' 

V. The EWS in Interparliamentary Cooperation 

VI. Conclusion 

3. The Scope and Application of the EWS 

I. Introduction 

II. Scope of the Reasoned Opinions Under Protocol No 2 

III. Comparison of the First Three 'Yellow Cards' 

IV. Consequences of the 'Yellow Cards' 

V. Observations on the Practice of the EWS

VI. Conclusion 

4. Design of the Subsidiarity Review at the National Level 

I. Introduction 

II. Institutional Evolution of National Parliaments 

III. Analysis of Constitutional Jurisprudence 

IV. Overview of Scrutiny Types 

V. Comparison of Procedures 

VI. The Impact of the Ex Ante Subsidiarity Review Design on the Number of Reasoned Opinions 

VII. Conclusion 

5. The EWS Within National Political Systems 

I. Introduction 

II. Government, Majority and Opposition in EU Affairs 

III. Research Approach 

IV. Analysis of the Data 

V. Analysis of the Debates 

VI. Conclusion 

6. Principle of Conferral Under Protocol No 2 

I. Introduction 

II. The Question of EU Competence 

III. Reasoned Opinions Concerning Violation of the Principle of Conferral 

IV. Special Cases: Article 114 and Article 352 TFEU 

V. Case Study: The 'Yellow Card' on the Right to Strike Proposal 

VI. Conclusion 

7. Subsidiarity and the Delegation of Power in the EU 

I. Introduction 

II. Delegated and Implementing Acts 

III. Case Study of the Proposal for a Tobacco Products Directive 

IV. Assessment 

V. Conclusion 

8. Subsidiarity and Fundamental Rights Legislation 

I. Introduction 

II. Fundamental Rights in the EU Draft Legislative Acts 

III. Fundamental Rights in the Reasoned Opinions 

IV. Case Study of a 'Genuine' Fundamental Rights Proposal 

V. Scrutiny of Fundamental Rights Proposals Within the EWS 

VI. Conclusion 

Conclusion 

I. Findings of the Book 

II. The EWS as an Answer to the 'Democratic Deficit' and 'Competence Creep'? 

III. Outlook: Reform Proposals