[MUSIC] What do people who speak more than dozens of languages and live in a region that extends from the Arctic circle to the coast of Africa, have in common? Well, they all live in Europe, and form as such a European population. This is made up of some 507 million people Who are, and today can be identified as European citizens. The European citizens, altogether, they represent the largest player in the European game, but unfortunately they are not necessarily the most vocal. But, what does being a European citizen entail and which are the rules governing their moves in the European game? Every person holding the nationality of a member state is also a citizen of the Union. So if you're a french citizen you're also a European citizen. See if you are Italian citizen, as I am, I am also a European citizen. The European Union citizenship introduced in 1992 is somewhat special. It does not replace the national citizenship but it is additional to it. That's why, a French citizen is also a European citizen. That's why I am a European citizen, without giving up my Italian citizenship. Therefore, it is for each country to lay down the conditions for the acquisitions and loss of nationality of that particular country. Be it France or Italy. Interestingly enough, all passports of European member states, issued since the mid 1980s have been printed in similar shades of burgundy, and today mention the European Union alongside the name and symbol of the member state. This is a Danish passport, and this is an Italian one. But does, what does the European citizenship add to their holders? What does being a European citizen add to my Italian citizenship? Well, first of all, it confirms, to the citizens, the right of free movement. A right of free movement, and residence throughout the Union. And the right to work in any position. This means freedom, geographical freedom. And the possibility, as I mentioned in the first class, of leaving the European Union. Trying to seize more opportunities outside of its own country. But right of residence is mainly subject to two conditions. If I want to establish in another country, as I actually did, I needed to show that I had basically two things. One, health insurance cover in the host country. Therefore, I won't be too bothersome on that particular social welfare country and health care system. And, also, to have sufficient income from any source and not necessarily coming from the EU country, it might be coming from another one. In order to show that you can live without needing income support. Again the idea is not to be too cumbersome on that particular country who was hosting it. But there is a further right. The right not to be discriminated against the, on grounds of nationality, within the scope of the application of the treaty. So, these additional rights, it comes with the European citizenship. Thus, if you get a job in another country, you cannot be paid less, than, than a national of that country for the very same job.This would be very disappointing. The European Court of Justice has played,a very significant role in making this European citizenship effective and turning these rights, which are written on paper, into a reality for several hundred thousand people. Instead of only dealing with cross-border cases, it has also a progressively ensured that nationals can also fully enjoy the rights in their own state and this of course, is fundamental. Still, a lot remains to be done to remove concrete discriminations against non-nationals in minorities, particularly in some member states. Apart from free movement rights, which means that all citizens have the right to move to other member states,that European citizens, enjoy, the European citizen enjoys a number of rights, of additional rights. Citizens in Europe they can seek the help of any European embassy abroad where their own state does not have representation, or address the European Institutions in any of the official languages of the EU and receive a reply in the very same language. These are very important rights which are attached to the European citizen. But, European's also enjoy political rights. They have the right to vote and run for political offices in local and European Parliament elections,in whichever state they are legally a resident. So, a French, citizen who is residing in Spain can run for elections and also vote in elections, at both the local and European level. But let me give you some famous examples. The French jurist Maurice Duverger sat in the European Parliament as an MEP. As a member of the European Parliament for the Italian Communist Party between 1989 and 1994. And the Finnish rally driver Ari Vatanen, has been elected to the European Parliament first in Finland, and then in France. But it is Daniel Cohn-Bendit who holds the record, having been elected in 1994 in Germany, in 1999 in France, and in 2004 in Germany, and back in France in 2009. The so-called democratic deficit that has been discussed so much it is therefore another myth to be debunked. The representation of European citizens in the Euro institutions, follows the very same rules of representative democracy that apply to the representation of citizens in most of the member states. We will also see later on in this course that European citizens can express their views also through some instruments of participatory democracy such as the European Citizens initiative, and petition to the European parliament. While free movement is the European right most cherished by Europeans, only 14 million out of 500 European citizens reside in another member state. This number may appear little but does not, does not really include all those citizens, around 200 millions, 210 millions who still reside in their own country of origin but cross the border to travel, work, or study abroad each year.
