European Year of Citizens

The European Union has declared 2013 the European Year of Citizens. Europe’s fundamental values such as freedom, democracy and the rule of law do not just apply to the EU member states. Each EU citizen is guaranteed individual freedoms and rights under the EU treaties. Federal President Joachim Gauck said in his speech on Europe on 22 February 2013: “For me, more Europe means more European civil society. I am therefore delighted that 2013 is the European Year of Citizens.”

European Year of Citizens 2013
© EU

European Year of Citizens 2013

European Year of Citizens 2013

© EU

Raising awareness of citizens’ rights

The European Year of Citizens will focus on the rights of private citizens in Europe, and is intended to remind people of these rights. The concept of EU citizenship was introduced 20 years ago in the Maastricht Treaty. Since that time, many EU citizens’ rights have become a matter of course. Prime among these are the freedom to travel throughout Europe without border formalities, as well as the freedom to work or shop in other EU countries. The European Year of Citizens will remind us all of the significance of these rights that we now take for granted. Other rights and powers, such as the European Citizens’ Initiative, are less well known. These will be well publicized during the year.

More on the European Citizens' Initiative

“More Europe” for each and every one of us

Every EU citizen is able to influence policy making at European level – by voting in elections, participating in Citizens’ Forums and taking part in public consultations on pieces of EU legislation. Only in this way, with the participation of the citizens, will European integration continue to be a success story.

You can find more information on the European Year of Citizens here

Contact point for civil society in Germany

At the behest of the Federal Foreign Office, the Network European Movement Germany is the contact point for civil society for the European Year of Citizens 2013. You can reach them by telephone: 030 / 30 36 20 180 or e mail: eyc2013@netzwerk ebd.de.

The contact point will provide information at regular intervals in a newsletter on the main issues and dates in connection with the European Year of Citizens.

More information on the European Year of Citizens can be found here

Last updated 12.04.2013