Principle of subsidiarity in EU law

The principle of subsidiarity in EU law means that decisions should be made as closely as possible to the citizens affected by them. This principle protects local and national powers by stating that the European Union should only act when issues cannot be effectively addressed at a lower level. Essentially, if a problem can be solved by member states on their own, the EU should not intervene. This ensures that decisions are relevant and appropriate to local contexts while promoting cooperation when necessary for larger issues that affect multiple countries.