A Few Words About MyCitizenship.EU
MyCitizenship.EU is a community. It’s about people. It’s about you. Sure, we’ll give you plenty of information, but you can find that elsewhere if you know where to look. Fundamentally our community exists for people to celebrate their EU citizenship, their thoughts about it, their hopes and their aspirations. We want you to feel inspired.
EU citizenship is the foundation for a shared sense of community. For many of us this is more than just a concept: it is a positive part of our identity. When people talk about the EU they often focus on trade. However the European Union (or ‘European Project’ as some people call it) is much more than that. Primarily it’s about people and society, peace and stability. (Free trade is just one of the mechanisms that encourage that.)
Too much in politics these days is about saying what’s wrong with the ‘other side’. We’re not going to do that. For us, EU citizenship is something to celebrate. So on this site we aim to demonstrate the positive aspects of EU citizenship and perhaps seek ways of making it even better. We’re not here to criticise alternative points of view or to provide a forum for discussing those.
‘Light a candle, don’t curse the darkness’
Our Aims
Our aims are:
- To provide a forum in which citizens can help to promote the appreciation of EU citizenship rights, with a view to improved levels of personal commitment to the ideals of the EU.
- To allow for the development of ideas that might enhance the coherence of the present set of rights.
- To act as a sounding board for ideas that might develop the package of rights still further.
- In support the above, to publish expert commentary on citizenship issues from time to time and when appropriate to respond to questions of general interest.
Through our work as individuals within our respective communities we have come to realise that EU citizenship is misunderstood and/or undervalued by many people. This is an attempt to redress the balance and appeal to all people throughout the European Union. My Citizenship welcomes you to our community!
Our History
- 1950
The European Coal and Steel Community begins to unite European countries economically and politically in order to secure lasting peace. The six founding countries are Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
- 1957
The Treaty of Rome creates the European Economic Community (EEC), or ‘Common Market’
- 1960 – 1969
EEC countries stop charging custom duties when they trade with each other. They also agree joint control over food production, so that everybody now has enough to eat – and soon there is even surplus agricultural produce.
- 1973
Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom join the EEC.
- 1970 – 1979
The EEC regional policy starts to transfer huge sums of money to create jobs and infrastructure in poorer areas.
- 1979
The European Parliament increases its influence in EEC affairs and all citizens can, for the first time, elect their members directly.
- 1981
Greece becomes the 10th member of the EEC
- 1986
Spain and Portugal join the EEC. The Single European Act is signed. This is a treaty which provides the basis for a vast six-year programme aimed at sorting out the problems with the free flow of trade across EEC borders and thus creates the ‘Single Market’.
- 1993
The Single Market is completed with the ‘four freedoms’ of: movement of goods, services, people and money. The ‘Maastricht’ Treaty is signed and the European Union becomes the new name.
- 1995
The EU gains three more new members: Austria, Finland and Sweden. A small village in Luxembourg gives its name to the ‘Schengen’ agreements that gradually allow people to travel without having their passports checked at the borders. Millions of young people study in other countries with EU support.
- 2004
The EU expands again with Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and
Slovenia joining.
- 2007
Bulgaria and Romania join the EU.
- 2009
The Treaty of Lisbon is ratified by all EU countries before entering into force.
- 2012
The European Union is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
- 2013
Croatia joins the EU.
1950-2018
