In the name of identity. EUMA Paper Vol. 7, No. 8, June 2010

Guerra., Gabriela (2010) In the name of identity. EUMA Paper Vol. 7, No. 8, June 2010. [Policy Paper]

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Abstract

[From the Introduction]. In order to establish an accurate perception of the complex European identity, one must first examine the legal element that constitutes a European citizen: citizenship. European citizenship developed in stages during the entire process of European integration. At the Copenhagen summit in 1973, a paper on European identity was issued and at the Paris summit in 1974, the question of a ‘citizens’ Europe’ arose officially. The heads of state and government agreed on the establishment of special rights, in order to bring political and civil rights acknowledged by the European Community (EC) closer to rights traditionally acknowledge to the national citizens.6 In 1984, at the European Council of Fontainebleau, an ad hoc Committee was set up to address issues relating to a ‘people’s Europe’. The Adonnino Committee published two reports concerning the enlargement of economic rights, and the establishment of new rights to bring Europe closer to the citizens; the Committee put forward proposals on rights of citizens, culture, youth, exchange, health, social security, free movement of people, town twinning, and symbols of EC identity:7 The European passport, the European flag, the European anthem, which are elements of citizenship traditionally linked to nation-states, were adopted in order to increase the awareness of the EC as a new political actor, and foster the feeling of belonging to the Community.8 Moreover, exchange programs for students and professors were created to favor an open-minded European culture through mobility.9 In 1986, the Single European Act (Article 8A) clearly referred to the right of free circulation of people by granting Europeans substantial rights of movement. While the aforementioned initiatives paved the road for European citizenship, the formal meaning of said citizenship was explicitly composed in the Treaty of Maastricht (1992): in addition to granting political rights, it also constitutionalized existing rights that were part of the acquis communautaire, and establishing new rights for European citizens.10

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