European Year of Citizens

The European Year of Citizens is the European Year 2013 decided on November 21, 2012 by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament on the proposal of the European Commission .

background

The occasion for the European Year 2013 is the 20th birthday of European citizenship , which was introduced on November 1, 1993 with the Maastricht Treaty . Union citizenship is associated with rights, such as the right to freedom of movement and choice of place of residence within the EU, the right to study in another EU country or to participate in local elections there, or the right to consular assistance in other EU countries through representations other Member States .

The central opening ceremony of the European Year of Citizens took place on January 10th in Dublin, Ireland. The graduation ceremony is scheduled for December 13th in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Objectives

In the year before the 2014 elections to the European Parliament , the European Year 2013 aims to create greater awareness of the rights associated with European citizenship and show where European Union policies generate real added value for EU citizens. Finally, the aim of the “Citizens 'Year” is to publicize the channels available in the EU for EU citizens to participate in the European legislative process (such as consultations or the European Citizens' Initiative ).

implementation

The activities in the context of the European Year are largely implemented on a decentralized basis. Each EU member state draws up a national program for this purpose. The European Commission (in charge of the Communication Directorate-General ) supports the national programs with a Europe-wide communication strategy and information material in all 24 EU languages . Another focus of the European Year is the “Citizens' Dialogue”, a series of dialogues by the European Commission in all EU Member States, in which an EU Commissioner discusses Europe with interested citizens. At the European level, the European Year of Citizens Alliance, a network of 56 organizations, is responsible for supporting civil society throughout the year.

The European year 2013 in Germany

In Germany, the Foreign Office is in charge and responsible for the national program, and the Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth for addressing young people. The contact point for civil society organizations for the European Year 2013 has been set up at the European Movement Germany . The German coordination point for the European Year of Citizens Alliance is the Federal Network for Citizenship Engagement .

Activities for the European Year in Germany started with a citizens' dialogue with Commission Vice President Viviane Reding on November 10, 2012 in Berlin . Citizens' dialogues followed on May 8, 2013 in Düsseldorf (with Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger ) and on July 16, 2013 in Heidelberg (again with Viviane Reding). Further citizens' dialogues were planned for October 28 in Potsdam , October 31 in Wiesbaden , November 8 in Oldenburg , November 15 in Chemnitz and November 28 in Bonn .

The second Citizenship Report was presented on May 8, 2013 as part of the celebrations for Europe Day . The report is themed "EU Citizens: Your Rights, Your Future" and guides the Commission's future action to strengthen citizens' rights.

The contact point for civil society in Germany for the European Year of Citizens started its work in February 2013 and has been issuing a newsletter at regular intervals since then, which provides information on activities, dates and backgrounds of the European Year. A leaflet also published by the contact point summarizes opportunities for participation, contact addresses and offers of the European institutions for citizens.

The European year 2013 in Austria

In Austria, the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs is responsible for the national program.

Web links

• European Year of Citizens 2013
• Website for the European Year 2013 in Germany
• Website of the contact point for civil society in Germany for the European Year of Citizens
• Leaflet for the European Year of Citizens (PDF; 546 kB)
• Union Citizens Report
• European Movement Germany: EU-in-Brief on the Union Citizens' Report (PDF; 112 kB)
• Website for the European Year 2013 in Austria

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Decision No. 1093/2012 / EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of November 21, 2012 on the European Year of Citizens , accessed on February 26, 2013
2. ↑ Europe - EYC 2013 - Your rights as an EU citizen. Retrieved February 26, 2013 . 
3. ↑ European Year of Citizens starts in Dublin. Retrieved July 19, 2013 . 
4. ^ The Closing Event of the European Year of Citizens. Retrieved July 19, 2013 . 
5. ↑ European Year of Citizens - what do we want to achieve? / - in. Retrieved February 26, 2013 . 
6. ↑ Members of the EYCA Alliance. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on January 6, 2013 ; Retrieved February 26, 2013 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
7. ↑ EU Citizens' Dialogue with Günter Oettinger on May 8, 2013 - YouTube. Retrieved July 19, 2013 . 
8. ↑ Reding in Heidelberg: “The EU needs more democracy” - Europe. Retrieved July 19, 2013 . 
9. ↑ Europe for the citizens? The 2nd Union Citizenship Report: Rights, Duties, Limits. Retrieved July 19, 2013 . 
10. ↑ Newsletter for the European Year of Citizens. Retrieved July 19, 2013 .