At ECIT Foundation, our mission is to further develop European Citizenship.
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ECIT's Annual Conference 2023
The 8th Edition of ECIT’s Annual Conference will take place on 31 October 2023, on the eve of the 30th anniversary of Union Citizenship in the Maastricht Treaty on 1 November.
This is an opportunity to think about the meaning of European Citizenship, what it has achieved so far, where it is today and its future prospects. A chance for lateral thinking and taking the long view.
We need your help and input!
We are actively working on a new version of the ECIT Draft Statute on European Citizenship that is shorter and easier to relate to as it attempts to break down what advantages EU Citizenship brings now and what it could offer in the future — all from the citizen’s perspective.
This is your chance to let us know what you think, and to contribute suggestions and ideas to improve the Statute.
Our campaign towards full political rights
Currently, electoral rights are only partials in the EU. In 13 out of the 27 EU Member states, non-EU nationals are not allowed to vote in municipal elections. Non-nationals are not able to vote in national elections. We believe that partial electoral rights are an obstacle to participation and democracy, which is why we want to demonstrate that mobile EU citizens should be entitled to vote in the Member State in which they reside!
Our campaign towards full political rights
Currently, electoral rights are only partial in the EU. In 13 out of the 27 EU Member states, non-EU nationals are not allowed to vote in municipal elections. Non-nationals are not able to vote in national elections. We believe that partial electoral rights are an obstacle to participation and democracy, which is why we want to demonstrate that mobile EU citizens should be entitled to vote in the Member State in which they reside!
Citizenship Statute
Since it was established in 2015, ECIT was alone in demanding and putting forward proposals for a Statute on European Citizenship — our attempt to codify and redefine the rights constituting what it means to be a European citizen. It is a success that the idea of a citizenship statute has now been supported by the European Parliament and the Conference on the Future of Europe, but there is still some way to go.
Political Rights
EU citizens have the right to vote and stand as candidates in local and European elections but not in regional and national elections, or to participate in referendums in their country of residence. The ECI ‘Voters Without Borders’ failed to collect enough signatures, but the campaign for full voting rights connected to freedom of movement and migration continues.
Citizenship Education
Our proposal ‘Making European Citizens’ for a new ECI is developed with the idea to guarantee the freedom of Europe for every child. This ECI aims for a Europe of equal opportunity. In theory, young people have the freedom of Europe, but there is a gap between the fine principles of the law and the barriers to access. If one third of EU citizens have the civic education and skills to take advantage of Europe, the majority miss out.
NEWS
FOR A EUROPE OF UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE — Statement by the ECIT Foundation and Voters Without Borders — Everyone should have the right to vote and stand in free and fair elections. Universal suffrage is a basic value to which European States and peoples aspire. Over the last two centuries, great
In these national elections, Greek citizens living abroad will be able to cast their vote from their Member State of residence, and that, for the first time, ever. That is a stepping stone against disenfranchisement which occurs in some EU Member States such as Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Ireland and Malta,
The Board met on 23 March and elected the following members. In particular we would like to welcome the four new Board Members marked with an asterisk (*) in the list below: Tony Venables Suzana Carp Julian Culp* Engin Isin* Dora Kostokopoulou Niccolo Milanese (Treasurer) Kalypso Nicolaidis Alvaro Oleart* Jo
Upcoming Events
European Participatory Democracy — EUDR Multiplier Event
Tools for boosting citizens’ engagement
Conference on Challenges of Votes at 16 for EU Citizens Living in Belgium (TBC)
SUPPORT US
Thanks to your generous donation our initiatives can continue to grow, working towards our mission to further develop European Citizenship, and set positive goals for the future of Europe. We are so grateful for your continuing support.
