The Commission Presents a Package of Measures to Strengthen EU Citizens’ Rights

European citizenship is one of the EU’s most significant achievements. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of EU citizenship, the European Commission is presenting today a package of measures aimed at enhancing the rights derived from EU citizenship across the Union. Individuals who hold citizenship of an EU country enjoy a series of rights and benefits distinct from the citizenship status of a specific member state, including the right to free movement, consular protection, and active participation in democratic processes.
The 2023 EU Citizenship Report published today highlights the progress made in strengthening and promoting citizenship rights, common values, and democratic participation in the EU since the publication of the last citizenship report in 2020.
Today, the Commission proposes amending the rules established by the Consular Protection Directive to protect and support EU citizens abroad during times of crisis. This proposal was developed in close cooperation with the High Representative, under whose supervision the European External Action Service and EU Delegations in third countries work. As part of the package, the Commission also presents new guidelines on the right to free movement, a guide to good electoral practices for citizens with disabilities, a collection of e-voting practices, and a guide to EU citizenship.
The Commission is also adopting today its first report on the implementation of the European Citizens’ Initiative regulation and publishing the latest Eurobarometer survey on citizenship and democracy, which focuses on EU citizens’ awareness of their citizenship rights.
The revised guidelines on free movement aim to help member state authorities and national courts correctly apply EU rules on free movement. The previous version of the 2009 guidelines has been updated mainly to reflect developments in the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union, taking into account the diversity of families (including “rainbow” families). The new guidelines provide legal and practical interpretation and examples of key issues regarding free movement rights
The 2023 Citizenship Report provides an overview of all citizenship policy initiatives in the EU since 2020, for example in relation to facilitating travel during the pandemic through the EU Digital COVID Certificate, initiatives to address difficulties faced by mobile EU citizens, and efforts to enhance inclusive democratic processes and ensure equal opportunities in elections.
The guide to good electoral practice for citizens with disabilities, as announced in the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030, presents a set of good electoral practices from various member states aimed at further improving the participation of citizens with disabilities in the electoral process.
The collection of e-voting practices presented today gathers electronic voting and other information and communication technology practices from all member states to further promote the exercise of electoral rights in the EU.
Following the Conference on the Future of Europe, the Commission presents a guide to EU citizenship, which will equip EU citizens with the most important information about their rights, with an emphasis on young people and those who have recently acquired EU citizenship.
According to the 2023 Eurobarometer on citizenship and democracy, published alongside the citizenship package, 50% of respondents consider themselves well informed about their rights as EU citizens, however, 33% consider themselves not very well informed and 16% not at all informed.
The first report on the functioning of the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) presents the progress made since the revision of the regulation in 2020 and announces a series of practical measures aimed at further improving the participation of European citizens in EU democratic processes, such as continuing and streamlining awareness-raising efforts about the ECI in cooperation with the European Parliament and member states, as well as systematically consulting with organizers of successful initiatives when developing policy proposals in response to these initiatives.