Concepte europene
European Citizenship And Identity ALINA BUZÃIANU The article presents the concept of European Citizenship, as it was defined on the Treaty on European Union, signed in Maastricht, in 1992. The conclusion is that, including the rights, the obligations, and the participation to the political life, the European citizenship aims to the self-representation and identity of the European Union, creating the framework for a deeper implication of the member states’ citizens in the process of European integration.
The Citizenship1 of the Union is not a consolidated reality; rather, we are attending to the beginning of a long process that will result in one or another way depending on European integration process fate. To fully develop a meaningful European citizenship is necessary that a sort of European identity arise. Just like the compulsory educational systems had a main performance in building up national identities, the role of schools and universities in fostering a sense of belonging, and European identity will be of the most importance. European Union (Eu) Citizenship Currently “EU Citizenship” is not quite equal in status to national citizenship (and certainly not outside the EU). Rather one holds the “nationality of a member state” and, as a result of the Maastricht Treaty, thereby becomes a “citizen of the Union”. This offers certain privileges within the EU: in many areas EU citizens have similar rights to native citizens in member states. Such rights granted to foreign EU citizens include the right of abode, the right to vote in local elections and the right to work in any position (including the civil service) except for very specific positions (defense...). The EU member states use a common passport design, burgundy colored with the name of the member state, national seal and the title “European Union” or equivalent. The classical concept of Citizenship We can define citizenship as a legal and political status which allows the citizen to acquire some
S.P. nr. 125/2006
rights (civil, political, social...) as an individual and some duties (taxes, military service, loyalty...) in relation to a political community, as well as the ability of intervening in the collective life of a state. The latter right arises from the democratic principle of sovereignty of people. Citizens - of Spain, United Kingdom, France, Portugal, United States... - have a series of rights, granted by their constitutions, but also have obligations, with regard to their national community. In a democratic state, the citizen must fulfill those obligations since they were passed by the representatives they have voted in, using one of the main citizen's political rights, the suffrage2. Citizenship is restricted to people who have that condition. People that live in a territory but lack the status of citizen are deprived of the rights and duties that citizenship involves. Every state has laws to regulate the way an individual can acquire its nationality, that is to say, the citizenship. This concept of citizenship dates back to a historical period initiated with the great liberal revolutions in the late 18th century. It is a notion characterized by the pre-eminence of the state-nation as the political community that comprises the individuals. Citizenship is tantamount to nationality. Challenges to the State-nation and the citizenship equivalent to nationality From the classic ages (Greece, Rome) to the present
76