Perspective Chapter: Beyond Borders – Can European Citizenship Build a Shared Identity?

<p>Since its introduction in the Maastricht Treaty (1992), European Union (EU) citizenship has offered rights of free movement, residence, employment, and political participation across member states. Yet, beyond these legal provisions, the question of whether EU citizenship has fostered a genuine s...

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Autor principal: Sobisch, Andreas
Formato: Capítulo de libro
Lenguaje:inglés
Publicado: IntechOpen 2025
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Acceso en línea:https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/1237158
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author Sobisch, Andreas
author_browse Sobisch, Andreas
author_facet Sobisch, Andreas
author_sort Sobisch, Andreas
building IntechOpen
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description <p>Since its introduction in the Maastricht Treaty (1992), European Union (EU) citizenship has offered rights of free movement, residence, employment, and political participation across member states. Yet, beyond these legal provisions, the question of whether EU citizenship has fostered a genuine shared European identity remains unsettled. While many citizens embrace the opportunities of integration and mobility, others continue to anchor their loyalties primarily in the nation-state. This chapter examines how legal rights intersect with emotional belonging, especially among younger generations who have grown up in an increasingly integrated Europe. It also analyzes contemporary challenges &ndash; including Brexit, rising Euroskepticism, migration debates, and democratic backsliding &ndash; that test the resilience of EU citizenship. Drawing on policy analysis, case law, survey data, and current debates, the chapter evaluates whether European citizenship has advanced a sense of solidarity or remains a largely legal construct. Ultimately, it argues that EU citizenship should be understood not as a finished condition but as an evolving project, one that must continue to adapt if it is to strengthen belonging across borders.</p>
doi_str_mv 10.5772/intechopen.1013811
first_indexed 2026-10-15T21:41:34Z
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spelling intech-12371582025-12-24 Perspective Chapter: Beyond Borders – Can European Citizenship Build a Shared Identity? Andreas Sobisch Social Sciences and Humanities <p>Since its introduction in the Maastricht Treaty (1992), European Union (EU) citizenship has offered rights of free movement, residence, employment, and political participation across member states. Yet, beyond these legal provisions, the question of whether EU citizenship has fostered a genuine shared European identity remains unsettled. While many citizens embrace the opportunities of integration and mobility, others continue to anchor their loyalties primarily in the nation-state. This chapter examines how legal rights intersect with emotional belonging, especially among younger generations who have grown up in an increasingly integrated Europe. It also analyzes contemporary challenges &ndash; including Brexit, rising Euroskepticism, migration debates, and democratic backsliding &ndash; that test the resilience of EU citizenship. Drawing on policy analysis, case law, survey data, and current debates, the chapter evaluates whether European citizenship has advanced a sense of solidarity or remains a largely legal construct. Ultimately, it argues that EU citizenship should be understood not as a finished condition but as an evolving project, one that must continue to adapt if it is to strengthen belonging across borders.</p> IntechOpen 2025-12-24 Chapter, Part Of Book https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/1237158 doi:10.5772/intechopen.1013811 en ISBN:978-1-83634-446-9 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ https://www.intechopen.com/books/1005005 ; European Union - Ideas for the Future
spellingShingle Social Sciences and Humanities
Sobisch, Andreas
Perspective Chapter: Beyond Borders – Can European Citizenship Build a Shared Identity?
title Perspective Chapter: Beyond Borders – Can European Citizenship Build a Shared Identity?
title_full Perspective Chapter: Beyond Borders – Can European Citizenship Build a Shared Identity?
title_fullStr Perspective Chapter: Beyond Borders – Can European Citizenship Build a Shared Identity?
title_full_unstemmed Perspective Chapter: Beyond Borders – Can European Citizenship Build a Shared Identity?
title_short Perspective Chapter: Beyond Borders – Can European Citizenship Build a Shared Identity?
title_sort perspective chapter beyond borders can european citizenship build a shared identity
topic Social Sciences and Humanities
url https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/1237158
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