Twenty years after the establishment of the European citizenship in the Maastricht Treaty, the European Union celebrated the European Year of Citizens 2013. This year will be dedicated to highlight the rights enjoyed by European Union citizens and to set up a debate between governments and civil society in order to build the new Union of 2020.

European citizenship established in the Maastricht Treaty grants nationals of the Member States a set of additional rights as European citizens. Being able to cross borders between Member States with less formalities, accessing health services in other countries, being better protected when travelling or enjoy consular protection in any Member State representations abroad, are some of the rights enjoyed by European citizens thanks to this status.

On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of its establishment, the European Commission decided in 2011 to dedicate the year 2013 to celebrate European citizenship. In order to do so, a series of activities, events and conferences will be held all over the year aimed at highlighting the achievements and defining the path which is still ahead. The European Year of Citizens 2013 will encourage the dialogue between all levels of government, civil society and business in order to get the image of how the European Union should look like in 2020 in terms of rights, policies and governance.

The European Year dedicated to citizens is celebrated in a particularly relevant scenario, only one ahead of the elections to the Parliament, twenty years after the establishment of European citizenship and in a situations of economic downturn. In this situation, as highlighted by Vice President and Commissioner for Justice Viviane Reding, it is more important than ever that citizens take direct action in building a stronger Union. The Commission therefore wants to help people to understand how they can directly benefit from their rights and stress that it is time for Europeans to take ownership of their common future.

Throughout the year many debates will take place between authorities and citizens. In order to prepare these debate, the European Commission carried out a public consultation in 2012 in which Europeans were asked about the difficulties they have had to exercise these rights. The responses made clear the importance citizens attach to these rights, especially the right of free movement and political rights, but also reflected the difficulties that sometimes exist locally in order to enforce them. By celebrating the European Year of Citizens, the Commission responds to the request made by the Parliament to dedicate this year to citizens.