European Union Citizenship

European Union citizenship is a powerful legal status that grants individuals rights and freedoms across all Member States. It is a legal status created by the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and grants every national of an EU Member State an additional layer of rights and protections on top of their national citizenship.

Any person who holds the nationality of an EU Member State is automatically a Union citizen. Union citizenship provides a complementary status: national law determines who qualifies as a citizen of a Member State, but EU law governs the rights that come with EU citizenship.

EU citizenship confers various rights:

• Right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States.
• Right to non-discrimination on the basis of nationality within the scope of EU law.
• Right to vote and stand in municipal and European Parliament elections in the Member State of residence under the same conditions as nationals.
• Right to consular protection if a citizen is in a non-EU country where their Member State has no representation.
• Right to write to any EU institution in one of the EU’s official languages and receive an answer in the same language.

EU citizenship rights are not absolute. They can be restricted on grounds of public policy, public security, or public health. Free movement and residence rights for example can be subject to conditions of economic activity, sufficient resources, or health insurance for non-workers.

Our EU Citizenship practice advises individuals, families, and businesses on navigating the complex rights and obligations that flow from EU citizenship, and represents clients in administrative, judicial, and strategic matters.

We offer expert assistance in areas including:

• Free movement and residence rights across Member States.
• Recognition of professional qualifications and access to employment.
• Rights to equal treatment, including social security and healthcare access.
• Family reunification and rights of family members.
• EU passport applications, retention, and revocation challenges.
• Litigation before national courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on citizenship-related matters.

Our EU Citizenship practice combines in-depth knowledge of EU primary and secondary law, human rights protection, and immigration policy, allowing us to deliver clear, sound, and strategic advice in complex cross-border cases.

You are welcome to contact us here if you would like to learn more what we can do for you.