Rights of EU citizens
The Treaty on the functioning of the European Union gives EU citizens the right to
- non-discrimination on the basis of nationality
- move and reside freely within the EU
- vote for and stand as a candidate in European Parliament and municipal elections
- consular protection (help from the embassy or consulate of any other EU country to EU citizens in distress in a country outside the EU where they have no embassy or consulate of their own country)
- petition the European Parliament and complain to the European ombudsman
- contact and receive a response from any EU institution in one of the EU's official languages
- access European Parliament, European Commission and Council documents under certain conditions
All EU citizens have equal access to the EU Civil Service.
Citizens' initiative
With the Lisbon Treaty, a new form of public participation is available to European citizens: the citizens' initiative, which allows one million citizens - nationals of a significant number of EU countries - to call directly on the European Commission to bring forward an initiative of interest to them.
EU citizenship reports
EU citizenship and the rights it confers lie at the heart of the EU. Since 1993, the European Commission reports every 3 years on progress towards effective EU citizenship and new priorities for the years ahead in the area of EU citizenship rights.
Press release on the EU Citizenship Report 2017
Summary Factsheet: EU Citizenship Report 2017
Eurobarometer surveys
Standard Eurobarometers are carried out twice yearly. Among other things, these examine people's attitudes on EU citizenship and on issues linked to the priorities of the European Commission, notably free movement.
Autumn 2016 –Standard Eurobarometer report on EU citizenship (EB 86)
2 specific Eurobarometer surveys were carried out throughout EU countries in view of the 2017 EU citizenship report:
European citizenship (2016)
Eurobarometer report on EU citizenship 2016
Summary: Eurobarometer report on EU citizenship 2016
Factsheet: Eurobarometer on EU citizenship 2016
Electoral rights (2016)
Summary: Eurobarometer on electoral rights 2016
Factsheet: Eurobarometer on electoral rights 2016
Special Eurobarometer survey on democracy and elections was issued in 2018 as a contribution to the annual Colloquium on fundamental rights.
What the Commission has done
On 23 January 2019, the Commission adopted a report on Investor Citizenship and Residence Schemes in the European Union:
In its 2017 Citizenship Report, the Commission announced that it would release a report on national schemes granting Union citizenship to investors, describing the Commission’s actions in this area, examining current national law and practices, and providing some guidance for Member States.
The Commission’s 2019 Report on Investor Citizenship and Residence Schemes is available here. It is accompanied by a Staff Working Document providing details on the scheme.
The Commission’s Report on Investor Citizenship and Residence Schemes is based largely on a detailed fact-finding study commissioned by the Commission, consisting of four parts:
- A - Overview of ordinary, discretionary and discretionary facilitated naturalisation procedures in all Member States
- B.I - Detailed research on Investors' schemes granting citizenship in all MS where these exist - link to document to be included
- B.II - Detailed research on Investors' schemes granting residence in all MS where these exist
- C - country summary reports, providing a quick overview and analysis of factual findings per Member State
- D - analytical overview report
Information portals
- Your Europe - information for EU citizens and their families
- Your rights - resources to help citizens and businesses defend their rights
- DG Employment, social affairs and inclusion - information on social security