Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-03-29-Speech-4-089-000"
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"en.20120329.5.4-089-000"2
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"Mr President, honourable Members, already 20 years ago, the Maastricht Treaty enshrined the concept of EU citizenship, and the Lisbon Treaty on European Union places citizens firmly at the heart of the European Union – as it should be. In practice, this means, and should mean, that people who travel outside their own country, whether for tourism, study, work, marriage or retirement, should be able to exercise their rights as European citizens as easily as in their own country, wherever they are in Europe.
To this end, in October 2010, the Commission presented its first report on EU citizenship, which highlighted the obstacles which citizens may still encounter when travelling within the Union. The Commission proposed specific measures to remove these obstacles. I am glad to see today that our priority is also your priority, the priority of the European Parliament, and I would like to thank the rapporteur, Ms Vălean, for the excellent work she has done on the report.
I welcome the fact that the report has been received with considerable interest by the various committees to which it has been submitted for an opinion. The Parliament has a key role to play in further developing EU citizenship. The Commission has taken firm action to ensure that all 27 Member States comply fully with EU citizens’ right to freedom of movement. Thanks to continued political pressure, we have achieved concrete results. Most, but not all, Member States have implemented the EU rules on free movement in full and, where Member States have failed to do so, the Commission has not hesitated to use its prerogatives and we have brought infringement proceedings against those Member States.
Ms Vălean, in your report, you quite rightly emphasise the importance of non-discrimination. In April, the Commission will present its analyses of the Member States’ national strategies on the integration of the Roma people of Europe. You also stressed your concern that citizens should be informed of their rights; this is indeed an essential point and that is why we have set up the portal called Your Europe, in order to provide citizens in their own languages with detailed information on their rights. In addition to this portal, there are 500 Europe Direct centres in the Member States for the same purpose.
Thus, to enable citizens to be better informed and involve them in a debate on the development of the European Union, we have proposed that the year 2013 should be the European Year of Citizens. You have now received this proposal, as has the Council, and we trust that an agreement can be reached swiftly.
The Commission will present its second citizenship report in the course of this European Year of Citizens and it will report on the progress already made and propose new actions to make the EU into an area where justice and citizens’ rights are truly guaranteed. A public consultation for our citizens will be launched very soon, to involve citizens in this important initiative. Ms Vălean’s report already serves as a contribution for the European Parliament, and my colleague, Vice-President Viviane Reding, will continue to meet you in the coming weeks and months in order to receive your suggestions.
In conclusion, if our joint efforts are to be successful, we must work in tandem and involve our citizens. The Commission is therefore anxious to conduct an open and constructive dialogue with all stakeholders in order to build a Europe that protects citizens’ rights: a Europe for citizens and a Europe at the service of citizens."@en1
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