European citizenship. An institutional challenge

This book consists of the (revised) papers presented at a conference on the concept of 'European citizenship' given at the European University Institute in Florence in June 1996, a subject that has become of considerable interest with the formal creation of the concept of European citizenship by Articles 8 - 8e of the Treaty on European Union, 1992, granting a new legal status granted to all Member State nationals.

The first part of the book addresses 'Citizenship and rights', and examines aspects of a more theoretical nature raised by the concept of citizenship, aspects relating to political philosophy, legal philosophy, the history of thought, and social theory.

The second part of the book is devoted to the controversial and thorny issue of the relationship between citizenship and nationality.

The third part of the book considers the special status of European citizenship. What kind of citizenship is it? Is it citizenship in a strict sense, or something rather different?

The last part of the book reflects on the difficult problem of European democracy or of the possible democratic valency of the European Union. Many contributors would agree that simply by adding a few articles of law on European citizenship, we can instantly build a European political identity, and overcome the lack of democracy that exists in the EU.