The origins of European citizenship in the first two decades of European integration

Abstract

By tracing conceptions of citizenship in the early period of European integration until 1971, this article argues that the Maastricht Treaty was not year zero in the EU citizenship discourse. In contrast to previous research, this article contributes theoretically by studying citizenship as a status of individuals in relation to a political unit, differentiated analytically into membership, identity, rights and participation, and subsequently focuses on the interplay between them. Further, it contributes empirically by highlighting those treaties, judicial decisions, policies and practices that affected the status of individuals. The analysis finds that citizenship elements in early European integration created a frame upon which later conceptions of citizenship developed, including Union citizenship. It must, however, not be overstated as anything resembling a status akin to national citizenship. European citizenship should rather be understood as a status emerging from concrete judicial, legislative and political practices.