Along the path to Maastricht

A few days ago “2012 European Year for Active Ageing” was officially opened, and the EU Parliament and Commission are already launching new proposals for 2013, when the concept of European citizenship will gain centre stage. Twenty years later. Why should we return to speak of European citizens’ rights in 2013? Sophie Beernaerts, head of the Citizens Policy Unity of the European Commission, during the meeting of the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament, held on January 12, pointed out: “2013 will mark the twentieth anniversary since the adoption of the ‘European citizenship’ concept adopted with the Treaty of Maastricht. That’s why, the expert continued, “the European Parliament has decided to deepen this topic to raise public awareness and inform citizens about their rights”. In fact, ever too often, the concept of citizenship is understood as an abstract value and not as a concrete juridical category. This implies the negative performance of the principle on the part of national governments and citizens alike. “Our goal is to inform and raise citizens’ awareness and also to create an atmosphere of solidarity, of openness among member states, also in the light of the ongoing delicate economic situation”.Reports and petitions. Nikolaos Salavrakos, MEP, member of the Committee for Petitions, underlined, “European citizens experience various difficulties in the recognition of their citizenship rights. Each year, numerous reports and petitions are submitted by citizens, notably as relates to the free circulation of people, goods and services”. Mobility is a recurring term. Are we truly aware of what it entails? “Citizens living in countries that are not their countries of birth aren’t fully informed about their rights and in some cases this leads to abuse of power by their employers”, the MEP pointed out. “Instead, citizens should be justly informed also in the light of surging unemployment rates across member States”. Mobility, ownership rights, recognition of rights for same gender partners and limited access to the practice of citizenship rights for Romanians and Bulgarians were among the other items debated by the Commission. Work in progress. A gradual process led to the acknowledgement of European citizenship granted to all the citizens of EU countries. But owing to the political, and economic development of the EU it is still an ongoing process. That’s why 2013 is bound to be a key year – as it is described in EU seats – for its development, notably in the light of upcoming European elections in 2013. What should be the starting point to meet the objectives? MEP Miguel Angel Martìnez Martìnez ‘s answer is: “To recover the Charter of Fundamental rights of the EU”, which is currently annexed to the Lisbon Treaty; only “informed and aware citizens can demand the enforcement of their rights”.Concrete results. EU Commission and Parliament are jointly working on the concept of European citizenship and the ways to boost its effectiveness and performance. The Executive has launched a set of initiatives to ensure that the EU and its citizens are prepared to the appointment of next April 1, when the “initiative right” will become operative (on January 26 a workshop in Brussels will focus on the theme), thanks to which one million citizens of at least a quarter of all Member States can ask the Commission to present legislative proposals in specific areas. The Vice-President of the Commission Viviane Reding, commenting on the proposal of the European Year of citizens explained: “it will be an occasion to remind what the EU can do for each one of us”. “In the short run – the Commissioner said – the EU will celebrate the twentieth anniversary of European citizenship, introduced with the Maastricht Treaty”. Twenty years have passed since the establishment of EU citizenship. The concrete results achieved to date directly impact the lives of millions of people. Just to make an example: going abroad today means to travel low cost, easily cross borders, benefiting from guarantees on package holidays, accessing medical assistance and phoning home at low costs… The Commission’s goal is to ensure the removal of the last obstacles to the practice of rights linked to EU citizenship”.