citizenship

Freedom of movement is the most cherished right of EU citizenship (see press release No. 14/2011). Indeed, more and more Europeans benefit from this right and live in another EU Member State: in 2009, an estimated 11.9 million citizens were living in a Member State other than their own; in 2010 this figure grew to 12.3 million (STAT/11/105). Thanks to EU citizenship – which does not replace national citizenship but is additional to it – EU-citizens have access to a broad range of rights across all EU-Member States, including rights as consumers to access goods and services in other Member States, and the right as citizens to access education, to obtain recognition of their professional qualifications, to access healthcare, to acquire or preserve social security rights or the right to vote and to stand as candidates in elections to the European Parliament and in municipal elections in their Member State of residence.

Yet whilst more than one third (35%) of workers would consider taking a job in another Member State, nearly one in five still considers that there are too many obstacles to actually doing so. Together with language difficulties, a chronic lack of information is the most important barrier to cross-border commuting. A survey from 2010 showed that too many people still do not feel adequately informed about the different rights available to them: only 43% know the meaning of the term 'citizen of the European Union' and almost half of European citizens (48%) indicate that they are ‘not well informed’ about their rights (see Annex).

In addition, the EU Citizenship Report 2010 (see IP/10/1390 and MEMO/10/525) showed that, in fact, many barriers remain that prevent or discourage people from moving abroad. The report outlined 25 concrete actions to remove these remaining obstacles. One of these is to "strengthen citizens’ awareness of their EU citizenship status, their rights and meaning in their daily lives by proposing the designation of 2013 as the European Year of Citizens and by organising targeted events on EU citizenship and citizen-related policies during this Year". The European Year of Citizens will be characterised by a follow up to the EU Citizenship Report: in 2013, the Commission will publish an action plan for completing the removal of the remaining obstacles that hinder citizens from enjoying their rights as Union citizens.

By designating 2013 as the European Year of Citizens, the European Commission is delivering on the promise made in the EU Citizenship Report and answering the European Parliament's call for such a year.

The purpose of the European Year of Citizens is to facilitate Union citizens' exercising their right to move and reside freely within the EU by ensuring they can easily access information about their rights. More specifically, the aim of the Year is to:

• raise citizens' awareness of their right to reside freely within the European Union;

• raise citizens' awareness of how they can benefit from EU rights and policies and to stimulate their active participation in Union policy-making;

• stimulate debate about the impact and potential of the right to free movement, in particular in terms of strengthening cohesion and people's mutual understanding of one another.

To mark the European Year of Citizens 2013, a range of events, conferences and seminars will be organised across the EU at Union, national, regional or local level. The Commission is also planning to strengthen the visibility of the multilingual Europe Direct and Your Europe web portals as key elements of a 'one-stop-shop' information system on Union citizens' rights, as well as the role and visibility of problem solving tools, such as SOLVIT, to allow Union citizens to better make use of and defend their rights.

The proposed budget for the activities to take place during the 2013 European Year of Citizens is EUR 1 million.

Today's Decision will need to be approved by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers according to the "ordinary legislative procedure" (co-decision). The Commission expects to work in close cooperation with the other EU institutions, notably the European Parliament, and with the Member States to make sure the Year has a strong and lasting impact.

Priority One – Citizens and the EU: values, democratic life and institutional issues

The active involvement of citizens in dialogue and reflection on the EU, its policy objectives and its values are crucial in fostering a sense of ownership and of European identity amongst citizens. The Europe for Citizens Programme is an important tool in this respect and can make a valuable contribution to increase awareness, understanding and enjoyment of the values and principles enshrined in the EU Treaties.

The Treaty also puts the role of the EU in the world on a new footing and introduces important changes in the functioning of the EU institutions, inter-institutional relations and interaction between the European institutions, national parliaments and citizens. The Europe for Citizens Programme represents an important means of empowering citizens to play a full part in the democratic life of the EU. Fostering participation through volunteering in particular, promoting equal opportunities for all, intercultural dialogue and contributing to an inclusive society are issues of fundamental importance to active citizenship, including as regards participation in political life.

Priority Two - Citizens' interests and EU policies

Citizens' engagement with issues which constitute the European Union's political priorities is a key element of civic participation. The Europe for Citizens Programme represents a valuable tool for raising awareness amongst citizens and encouraging them to share their views on the political programme and concrete actions proposed by the European Institutions and to influence what the agenda should comprise (agenda setting) and how the agenda should be taken forward. Particular attention should be given to the perspective of citizens and organised civil society on the skills needed to contribute to and benefit from a knowledge-based and sustainable economy and on the ways to ensure it goes hand in hand with social cohesion.

In 2012 further efforts should then be put into raising awareness, reflection and debate on the relevance and implications of EU policies on citizens' daily lives and in removing the remaining obstacles that EU citizens still face. Topics under debate should also link to the issues in the European agenda, including economic governance, young people's role in the labour market and society, climate change, sustainable energy, flexicurity, transport, innovation and other flagship initiatives and objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy. Projects shall facilitate the exchange of views with and presentation of results to the appropriate decision-makers on ongoing European policies and their impact on local situations as well as on local issues with an European dimension. A focus should also be on projects which are related to the objectives of the European Year of Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity.