ABSTRACT

In its own formalistic way, the EU has done its bit to help citizens identify more with the EU and reinforce a sentiment of belonging and ownership. The EC heads of government, at the Fontainebleau summit in June 1984, appointed a committee for this purpose. Known as the committee for a people's Europe, it was chaired by an Italian, Pietro Adonnino, and produced two reports with a series of ideas for special rights for citizens, culture, information, youth, education, exchanges and sport, voluntary work to assist developing countries, health, social security, drugs and twinning schemes. Despite progress in implementing the Adonnino proposals on citizenship, the Spanish government wanted a specific treaty commitment whereby all persons holding the nationality of a member state would have citizenship of the European Community. The Maastricht Treaty on European Union, agreed December 1991, duly contained provisions establishing citizenship of the EU and It guaranteed the rights of free movement and residence.