Implementation of the Treaty provisions on EU citizenship
TA-9-2024-0024 · P9_TA(2024)0024 · PE754.647
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Parliament's resolution reviews how EU citizenship rights are applied and calls for an EU citizenship statute compiling existing and future rights.¶¶ It asks member states to fully implement rules on mobile citizens' rights, to guarantee expatriate voting rights and to end 'golden visa' and investor schemes.¶¶¶ It calls for a binding European Charter on Digital Rights, a one-stop shop for participatory tools, a permanent citizens' consultation mechanism and a possible European citizens' card.¶¶¶ It wants citizenship education in schools, better public consultations, more Commission communication and a Convention to revise the Treaties.¶¶¶
Key points
- EU citizenship comprises a shared European democratic identity and specific rights, civic duties and freedoms, exercised online and offline.¶
- Parliament says EU citizenship must address 21st-century needs, warning that digitalisation with poor digital literacy risks a digital divide.¶
- It calls multilingualism in EU institutions essential and cites the 2005 Council conclusion on non-official languages recognised in a member state.¶
- It regrets the Commission did not mention reinforcing EU citizenship in its Conference on the Future of Europe follow-up, and that the Council has not acted.¶
- It deplores that mobile citizens vote and run for office less in European and municipal elections, and is concerned that some member states deprive expatriates of national votes.¶¶
- It calls for Romania's and Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen area and for member states to stop discriminating against mobile EU citizens on benefits.¶¶
- It is concerned about gaps in consular protection, especially after the United Kingdom's exit, and welcomes the Commission's proposal to update the Consular Protection Directive.¶¶
- It flags differences in national citizenship rules, refusals of residence rights to non-EU parents of EU citizen children, and discrimination against same-sex couples.¶¶¶
- It calls on member states to end 'golden visa' and investor schemes and on the Commission to refer relevant member states to the Court of Justice of the EU.¶
- It wants a horizontal non-discrimination clause in the EU citizenship statute and targeted awareness campaigns, including an EU information package.¶¶
- It proposes a permanent citizens' consultation mechanism, a European citizens' card, and a one-stop shop for participatory tools.¶¶¶
- It calls for citizenship education in school curricula, better public consultations, and a Convention to revise the Treaties to strengthen EU citizenship.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- Mobile EU citizens and their family members, who face obstacles to voting, residence and benefits.¶¶¶
- People with disabilities, who face difficulties exercising citizenship rights.¶
- Member states, asked to implement directives, guarantee expatriate votes and end investor schemes.¶¶¶
- The Commission, asked to clarify Directive 2004/38/EC, run campaigns and improve consultations.¶¶¶
- EU citizens in cross-border regions and rural areas, who face difficulties especially during border closures.¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- over 15 million EU citizens live and work in another member state¶
- over 60 % of 2020 consultation participants did not consider themselves well informed about EU citizenship rights¶
- half of 2023 Flash Eurobarometer respondents consider themselves well informed about their rights
- almost 87 million EU citizens live with some form of disability¶
Legal basis: Articles 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 21 and 23 TEU and Articles 15, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 45, 46, 47, 48, 153 and 165 TFEU¶¶