EU CITIZEN Meaning and
Definition
-
EU citizen refers to an individual who is recognized as a citizen of a member state within the European Union (EU). The EU is a political and economic union composed of 27 member countries located in Europe. The status of EU citizenship was introduced by the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, aimed at granting certain rights and protections to citizens of the EU member states.
As an EU citizen, an individual is entitled to a range of rights within the EU. These include the right to freely move and reside within any member state, the right to vote and stand in European Parliament and municipal elections in their country of residence, as well as consular and diplomatic protection from any EU member state's embassy or consulate outside the EU.
Moreover, EU citizens have the right to petition the European Parliament, lodge complaints with the European Ombudsman, and have access to EU documents. They are also protected against discrimination based on nationality in various aspects such as employment, access to services, and social benefits.
The EU citizenship is granted in addition to national citizenship and does not replace it. Therefore, an individual can hold both national and EU citizenship and enjoy the rights and protections associated with both statuses.
However, it is important to note that EU citizenship does not grant automatic entitlement to benefits or social services in any EU member state unless the individual meets the specific criteria established by each country's national laws and regulations.
Etymology of EU CITIZEN
The term "EU citizen" stands for "European Union citizen", referring to individuals who hold the nationality of a European Union (EU) member state. The etymology of this term can be broken down as follows:
1. European: The word "European" originated from Latin, specifically from the term "europa", which can be traced back to Greek mythology. Europa was a Phoenician princess whom Zeus seduced while disguised as a white bull and carried away to Crete. Over time, "European" came to refer to the people and cultures of the continent of Europe.
2. Union: The term "union" comes from the Latin word "unio", which translates as "oneness" or "unity". It signifies the act of joining or bringing together multiple entities into a single whole. In the context of the EU, it represents the joining of individual European countries into a political and economic union.
