You, yes you who are reading this article, you are a European citizen, you have rights and obligations towards the European Union. You know, however, what are your rights and your obligations to the European family?
A union citizen is any person who has the nationality of a Member State. The status of Union citizenship is a secondary attribute that depends on the law of each Member State in which the citizen belongs.
You know your rights? Beyond that, you know that you also have certain obligations, which you ought to observe? In order for you to understand this better, we name your rights in opposition with your obligations.
As a European citizen you have the right to move and stay freely at any member state of the European Union. Be careful though, you cannot stay in another country over a period of three months. If you wish to stay more, it is required to provide some documents to the competent authorities of your residence. You have the obligation to hold a valid identity card or passport. The right to stay over three months, have only those who visit a country for work, training and education (Erasmus + program). For example, when you study in a university of an EU member state you have wondered what will happen if you get sick and need medical care? For this reason, the European Union gives you the European Health Insurance Card, which takes care of your medical care. (Http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=509&langId=el)
Remember that, although you can move freely in EU member states you have to observe and respect traffic laws in the country where you stay.
Once you are in a country that belongs to the European Union family you have equal treatment with the other citizens, such as the access to employment or self-employment, social security and health benefits.
You have the right to vote and be voted in elections of the European Parliament and in municipal elections in the member state where you live. In Greece, the right to vote have those who have reached the age of 18 and have not denied the right to vote. You have the right to vote, so don’t let someone else decide for you. You hold the future in your hands and you have the possibility to change it.
As long as you are a European citizen, it is reasonable to have the right of initiative of the European citizen. What does this mean? It means that if you concentrate 1,000,000 signatures of citizens that belong to the European Community, you can call the European Commission to propose, under its powers, appropriate legislation concerning the European Citizen’s Initiative. It isn’t shameful to do, it’s included in your rights and you have the right to claim what you deserve. Within this context, you can also be reported to the European Parliament and the European Ombudsman.
Finally remember that you have the right of protection by the diplomatic or consular authorities of any Member State in a third country, in which the home Member State is not represented.
In a few words, European citizens have rights and obligations to ensure the peaceful coexistence and cooperation. They must know and respect their obligations and to enjoy and claim their rights.
You knew all this from the time you became European Citizen?
Kiti Stamatina, Student, International and European Studies