European citizenship as an approach towards a more federal European union

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on how the concept of European Citizenship is used as an approach towards a more politically integrated European Union, moving closer to a more federal Europe. Citizenship of the Union was introduced formally hy the Trei=tty of Maastricht, later amended by the Treaty of Amsterdam, Nice and also Lisbon. These included rights such as contesting and voting for European Parliament elections, as well as establishing and reinforcing the internal market and the freedom of persons within Member States. In an attempt to organise all of EU' s treaties into one document, an EU constitution was drafted yet was failed to be ratified. However, most amendments were then included into the Treaty of Lisbon, which also introduced the European Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. At a time when the current and future state of the Union is being debated, now is the right moment to debate the future of the EU. After comparing the EU with the USA, the importance of citizens shaping the political system is brought out. Through a number of initiatives, the Commission has tried to push forward access and information on these rights and it regularly issues progress reports identifying the progress being made in ensuring all the rights are being respected and enforced. This study analysis a number of surveys on Union citizenship, which shows that the level of basic knowledge on the subject is relatively high, yet citizens admit not being informed enough. The Commission itself admits that the institutional framework is a source of legitimation of the process of European integration as it reinforces citizen participation and gives a sense of belonging to the EU and to the European identity. Speeches by Commission and Council Presidents often speak about how our Europe is in fact a Europe of citizens and do place their focus on citizens in their speeches. We understand that among other factors, a presidential federal government came to be as a result of loose party systems as well as non-party agencies, which are now both considered vital in shaping EU's politics. New initiatives such as the 'European Citizen's Initiative as well as the debate on having transnational voting lists continue to be debated, and further emphasizes how citizens are meant to play an active role in shaping this European project. How far Union citizenship will actually shape the Union is yet to be seen, as the EU is a project which is far from finished.