Type: Acts of the European Union: Resolution on the EU Citizenship Report 2017: Strengthening Citizens’ Rights in a Union of Democratic Change

Authority: European Authorities - European Union: European Parliament

Date: 12/12/2017

Subject: The European Parliament notes that the rights to petition, to refer cases to the European Ombudsman and to access documents and registers are fundamental, tangible elements of EU citizenship and increase the transparency of decision-making; expresses, therefore, its wish that these rights be promoted and highlighted as key elements of the Commission’s EU Citizenship Report and properly reflected there; it underlines that the successful exercise of citizenship rights presupposes that all rights and freedoms enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights are upheld by Member States; highlights the fact that the adoption of democratic and participatory governance, the greatest possible level of transparency and the direct involvement of all citizens in decision-making processes ultimately reinforce EU citizenship; it calls on the Member States to better inform EU citizens as to their rights and duties and to facilitate equal access to and equal respect for these rights both in their country of origin and in other Member States; it highlights existing opt-outs from parts of the EU Treaties by some Member States which lead to de facto differences in citizens’ rights; it expresses strong regret that for almost a decade now no significant progress has been made in the adoption of the EU-wide Anti-Discrimination Directive; calls on all EU institutions and the Member States to relaunch the relevant negotiations as a matter of the utmost priority; it notes the Commission’s undertaking to actively support the conclusion of these negotiations; it invites the Commission to take more active steps to fight discrimination against LGBTI persons and to combat homophobia by defining concrete action to be taken at national and European level; calls at the same time for the EU institutions to monitor LGBTI rights closely and to promote the recognition of cross-border rights for LGBTI persons and their families in the EU; it recalls that traditional minorities have coexisted for centuries with majority cultures on the continent of Europe; underlines the need for the EU institutions to play a more active role in the protection of minorities; it expresses its conviction that the fundamental right to freedom of expression and information, enshrined in Article 11 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, free media and access to a plurality of voices in society and the media are indispensable parts of a healthy democracy and are therefore a constitutional foundation of EU membership as enshrined in Articles 2 and 6 of the TEU; it underlines the need for a clearly-defined EU policy to tackle anti-European propaganda and false information, and to foster the independence of public media from governments; proposes that a minimum time in public broadcast media in all Member States be dedicated to content related to EU affairs; it proposes that EU institutions proceed with the creation of European television channels broadcasting in all Member States and all EU official languages, and with educating citizens on media literacy from an early age; it supports dissemination of press and multimedia productions in all official EU languages; it underlines in this regard the need for further awareness-raising among European journalists

Classification: Freedoms - Art. 11 Freedom of expression - Media - Equality - Art. 21 Non discrimination - Art. 22 Respect of cultural, religious and linguistic diversity - Art. 23 Equality between men and women - Citizens’ rights - Art. 41 Right to good administration by the bodies of the union - Art. 43 Ombudsman of the union - Art. 44 Right to petition

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