Föderalismus und europäische Integration. Die doppelte Unitarisierung des deutschen Bundesstaates (1950-1992)

The article examines how the German Länder coped with the effects of European integration. The focus is on the specific changes to the German federal state and the relationship between the Länder and the federal government. The presentation focuses on the period between 1950 and 1992. The ratification debates of the ECSC and EEC treaties, the Single European Act (SEA) and the Treaty of Maastricht are highlighted. The aim is to provide a new interpretation of these changes based on an overarching constitutional grey area phenomenon that can be described as ‘double unitarisation’. Finally, the question is raised as to what extent these conflicts have affected the other European member states, especially those with a federal system.