European Union Citizenship
European Union Citizenship : This is a concept that remained undeveloped within the European Communities (EC) until the intergovernmental conferences of 1991 that preceded the Maastricht Summit (1992). While certain individual rights were provided by the Treaty of Rome (1957), they were based essentially upon the economic objectives set by the Treaty. Although these rights were strengthened by rulings of the European Court of Justice, they were limited in number and scope, and did not in any way provide a condition of citizenship. This gap in EC thinking was directly addressed by the Treaty on European Union (TEU), which came into force in 1993 and attempted to formalize and develop the concept of citizenship beyond the economic rights of workers. The aim of introducing and defining citizenship was part of the ambition to make the European Union (EU) more democratic and to instil in its inhabitants identification with and commitment to the EU. However, it is not totally clear what citizenship is or involves. There are no references to the duties of citizens and, since the EU does not have a legal personality, citizenship would seem to lie within the European Community pillar, which is the only part of the EU in which the European Court of Justice, as the guarantor of rights, has jurisdiction. In addition, the TEU reaffirmed that sovereignty rested with the EU Member States, and therefore questions of nationality and citizenship should be decided at the national level. Even though EU citizenship is therefore indirect, its establishment was not accepted unanimously. There were fears, particularly among Eurosceptics, that the introduction of a formalized citizenship would be used by the European institutions to further reduce the freedom of the Member States, with the long-term aim of EU citizenship superseding national citizenship. All nationals or citizens of EU Member States are automatically also citizens of the EU. This may but need not involve the citizen more directly in European integration. It also gives him/her the right to: (1) circulate (i.e. to travel) and remain and live freely on the territory of any or all Member States; (2) take part in elections to the European Parliament and in municipal elections in the country of residence; (3) benefit from diplomatic and consular protection by the authorities of all Member States; (4) have access to extrajudicial recourse through a mediator; and (5) petition the European Parliament and to have recourse to the European Ombudsperson. Other rights guaranteed to EU citizens are: non-discrimination by reason of nationality, and by reason of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, age or sexual orientation. Education will be the key element of European citizenship. The rights introduced in Maastricht, included in the Treaty of Amsterdam (1997), will lead to a citizenship of the EU whose rights and duties will be connected to daily life and will form the basis for a European identity. See: Discrimination; Fundamental rights; Treaties
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