ABSTRACT
A more flexible labour market has been envisaged as a possible solution for rising unemployment in Europe in the 1970s and 1980s. The choice of definition is of crucial importance when analysing citizenship and its relation to labour market flexibility. Once the effects of labour market flexibility have been clarified it will be possible to relate such effects to the concept of citizenship. Unlike human rights, which by definition apply to all people universally, citizenship rights are only for members of a certain political unit, usually the nation-state. Human rights, however, have often become citizenship rights by being constituted in national law. In conclusion, it seems that if rights are to be developed or have been developed, they should not be 'citizenship' rights, but rather rights for any inhabitant who has lived in their country of residence for a number of years with a valid residence permit.
