Citizenship and democracy : report

2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the entry into force of the Maastricht Treaty, which established the citizenship of the European Union. EU citizenship is one of the most significant achievements of the European project and is unique in the world, and the rights it confers lie at the heart of the EU. Any person who holds the nationality of a Member State is automatically also an EU citizen. EU citizenship is additional to and does not replace national citizenship of a Member State. EU citizens have 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 - launch or support a European citizens' initiative, asking the European Commission to propose legislation on an issue that matters to them - contact and receive a response from any EU institution in one of the EU's official languages.