Applying for Citizenship of the European Union
Citizenship of the European Union, introduced by the Maastricht Treaty and it was signed in 1992, and has actually been in force since 1993. Before 1992 the Maastricht Treaty, the European Communities treaties did provide guarantees for the free movement of economically active persons, but not for others. European citizenship is supplementary to national citizenship. European citizenship affords such rights as:- The right to vote in European elections.
- The right to free movement across the EU.
- Settlement and employment across the EU.
- The right to consular protection by other EU states' embassies when a person's country of citizenship does not maintain an embassy or consulate in the country they need protection in.
The rights of free movement of workers is applicable regardless of the worker's purpose in taking up employment abroad, it applies to both full and part time work, and is not affected by whether the worker may need additional assistance financially from the Member State. Every national of an EU country within another Member State, whether economically active or not, is entitled under the European Community Treaty to free movement.
It was granted by the European Court of Justice that the citizenship provisions should provide substantive free movement rights in addition to those already granted by Union law. With the creation of EU citizenship certain political rights came into being.
Political rights.
Political rights meant being able to vote in European elections, also a right to vote and stand in elections to the European Parliament, in any EU member state as well as voting in municipal elections. A right to vote and stand in local elections in an EU state other than their own.A right to access European Parliament, Council, and Commission documents.
The right to petition the European Parliament and the right to apply to the European Ombudsman in order to bring to his attention any cases of poor administration by the EU institutions and bodies.
Rights of free movement.
Right to free movement and residence meaning the right of free movement and residence throughout the Union and the right to work in any position (including national civil services with the exception of those posts in the public sector that involve the exercise of powers conferred by public law and the safeguard of general interests of the State or local authorities.The right not to be discriminated against because of nationality.
Every citizen of the Union shall have the right to move and reside freely within the Member States, subject to the limitations and conditions laid down.