On 9 May 2012, Europe Day, the European Commission launched a public consultation on “EU citizens: your rights, your future” . The network of the European Movement developed its own contribution, which you can read hereafter or download as PDF version. 
Contribution of the European Movement International to the Public Consultation “EU Citizens: your rights, your future”

22. The European Commission runs a website which contains information about your rights and on national rules and procedures which will help you benefit from your rights at national level (Your Europe). How else would you like to get the information you need about your rights as an EU citizen?

In order to improve the access to the information about citizen’s rights, the European Movement suggests taking the following steps:

•    All information related to citizenship and aiming to address the general public should always be accessible in all official languages of the EU.

•    A European translation agency should be established:  Getting understandable information about products is a basic right for consumers. The language barrier, for small businesses especially, can represent a significant burden and discourage their expansion across borders. Furthermore, the standards on the accreditation of legal and sworn translators and the amount of information needed in the local language can vary considerably from one Member State to the other. The Agency would set up and supervise the application of quality standards for translation, support businesses in supplying information in foreign languages and in ensuring that consumer can access information in their native languages.

•    Working with Civil society organisations. This point is essential to underline that a portal of any kind is not very useful if civil society organisations are not called on to make the bridge to citizens. We therefore recommend that CSOs be involved in any initiative aiming to inform citizens about their rights.

•    Regarding youth mobility, the hosting organizations of young people are also a privileged information relay, which should receive more attention and substantial support assigned to information of target audiences.

Other ideas:
–    Disseminate more information / case studies of different type of situations experienced by Europeans
–    Use more modern and interactive tools (e.g. online simulations)
–    Use more the national and local correspondents of the European Union
–    More direct communication to the citizen

23. The European Commission has set up a number of advice and assistance centres to help solve problems you might encounter (SOLVIT, Europe Direct Contact Centres linked to Your Europe Advice). What else could help you take advantage of your EU rights?

The Commission should make better efforts to bring information to citizens rather than getting citizens to look for the information. The European Movement has some initiatives that go in this direction, for example 9th May festivities and Europe@School; the role of CSO in achieving this is crucial, and working with them should become a priority for the EC when it comes to bring information to the citizens.

24. What does EU citizenship mean to you?

European citizenship should be at the heart of the EU political agenda. European citizenship means:
•    a democratic citizenship which is based on citizens’ legal status and includes all aspects of life in a democratic society relating to a vast range of topics such as, inter alia, education, culture, sustainable development, non-discrimination, inclusion of ethnic minorities, participation in society of people with disabilities, gender equality including the equal representation of women and men in decision making, etc;
•    a democratic citizenship which guarantees that citizens and civil society organisations have a say in the EU policy-shaping and decision-making processes by electing their representatives to the European Parliament. With the prospect of the upcoming elections in 2014 and at a time when we are facing an ever growing gap between the European Union and its citizens, as confirmed by the turnout in the latest European elections and by surveys which repeatedly show citizens’ lack of awareness of European citizenship and identity (cf. EU Citizens report 2010), the stakes could not be higher;

•    a democratic citizenship which implies that European institutions enjoy public confidence and can secure active involvement of citizens and organised civil society players in the decision-making processes at all levels, from local and national to European one; therefore, the adoption of an inter-institutional agreement for a structured framework for European civil dialogue would give a permanent practical substance to such an active and participatory citizenship alongside with the provisions of Article 11 of the Lisbon Treaty, besides the European Citizens’ Initiative.
•    The European Citizen’s Initiative is one of the few innovations of the Lisbon Treaty, and its complexity and under-resourcing is causing a half-hearted support which presents the risk that it is not seen as a success and is cause for it to be reconsidered or used as a pretext for not involving civil society.
•    a democratic citizenship which perforce must also operate at Member States’ level, so that the structures for citizens’ engagement are accessible and form part of every citizen’s experience; that government responsible to its citizens through Parliament is fundamental to the concept of democratic citizenship.
•    a democratic citizenship that guarantees that all citizens can participate in the life of their communities and the shaping of public policies, including the most disadvantaged groups which are more than often the most remote from the European building process. One cannot exercise her/his civic and political citizenship rights unless in capacity to enjoy the social and economic citizenship rights and the European Union should not miss out the contribution of the most disadvantaged.

25. How would you like the European Union to develop in the near future? In what kind of European Union would you like to live in 2020?

In order to overcome the current challenges it faces, the European Union needs specific objectives, in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy. These objectives should tackle a wide range of issues that cover the entire picture of the EU current affairs. As a pro-European organisation and as a representative of the European Civil Society, the European Movement considers that the following issues are essential, in view of the year 2020:

•    We need an Economic and Fiscal Union now and a clear roadmap for a Political Union. To this end we recommend the organisation of a European Convention with  the  participation  of  all  parliaments,  all  governments  and  the  European Commission.  

•    The EMI believes that the system of own resources for the European Union budget is in need of a considerable reform. An increase in the share of own resources for the EU budget would allow the Union to show more flexibility in shaping and implementing its policies and would create a clear connection between the EU’s goals and its budget. We need to “Europeanise” the EU budget through a better European Tax Policy, thus also increasing budgetary transparency.

•    Over 50 % youth unemployment in Greece and Spain and about 22 % in the EU-27 calls for no half-hearted measures. The EU therefore needs to continue giving new incentives for growth and job creation. It is necessary to launch specific European programs and to come forward with a renewed strategy on job creation. The EMI therefore stresses the urgent need to deliver on opportunities and to particularly reduce mass youth unemployment. Youth policy needs to be a financial and a political priority with the mainstreaming of a cross-cutting priority for Youth in the years to come.

•    In this context sustainable development policies are indispensable. We need to recall the connection between Human Rights and sustainable development, as a powerful means to eradicate poverty in the EU and beyond.

•    The European Union must strive to make sure all fundamental social, political, cultural and economic rights are respected.

•    Political measures should be taken to improve living and working conditions and ensure quality jobs and fight against precarious employment.

•    Individual access to education and training should be improved for all citizens.

•    The gender pay gap should be effectively tackled as well as all forms of discrimination based on sex, race or religion.

•    Reform the European elections and introduce transnational lists for more European democracy (e.g. Duff Report). In this context lowering the active right to vote to 16 years to increase the active citizenship of young Europeans is paramount.

•    Direct election of the President of the European Commission.

•    Improving the structures and the tools for civil dialogue at the EU level also means providing necessary resources. The EMI therefore disagrees with cutting public spending as a lower budget would weaken European Civil Society, and therefore Europe as a whole, decreasing its influence on the international scene and compromising any long-lasting return of prosperity by 2020 and beyond.

•    Promote dialogue between civil society and public authorities, especially in candidate states or potential candidate states. People-to-people contacts, hands across borders and the building of friendships, personal, professional and of networks are of utmost importance to the EMI. In this context, the EMI suggests avoiding double standards with regards to visa liberalization and visa facilitation agreements.

•    Development of CSOs and Civil Dialogue in Europe and its bordering countries to ensure and drive the sustainability of reform processes forward.

•    Accelerate the European Enlargement process in the Western Balkans and Turkey.

•    Reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and promote the sustainable use of energy and resources, preserving biodiversity and guaranteeing climate protection.