Treaties on the functioning of the EU

The Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) introduce EU citizenship. Citizens of the European Union are all persons who are nationals of one of the Member States. Citizenship of the Union is added to and does not replace national citizenship (Article 20 TFEU).
 
EU citizens are guaranteed:
 
- prohibition of discrimination on grounds of nationality (Articles 18-19 TFEU),
- the right to move and reside freely within the territory of the EU,
- the right to vote and to be elected in EU and municipal elections, in the country of residence,
- the right to consular protection,
- the right to petition the European Parliament (Article 20 TFEU),
- the right to lodge complaints with the European Ombudsman (Article 24 TFEU),
- the right to organize a European Citizens' Initiative, as well as the right to support the initiative (Article 11 TEU),
- the right to correspond in one of the official languages of the EU with any EU body, and the right to receive a reply in the same language as the correspondence initiated (Article 24 TFEU),
- the right of access to documents created by the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of the EU, subject to the conditions set out in the regulations (Article 15 TFEU).
 

EU citizens can get help:
 
- in the exercise of study and residence rights,
 
- in exercising rights related to:
                                         - social security (family benefits, emergency medical care, pension ...),
                                         - the right of residence of a person and his / her relatives who are not EU citizens,
                                         - recognition of professional qualifications,
                                         - vehicle registration,
                                         - driving licenses,
                                                                       when they have problems with public authorities,
 
- exercising consumer rights:
                                       - purchase of goods and services in the country of residence,
                                       - purchase of goods or services in another EU country,
                                       - out-of-court settlement of disputes with a financial service provider,
                                       - out-of-court settlement of disputes related to online purchases,
                                       - making and receiving payments in another EU country,
 

- when they are discriminated against on the basis of:
                                      - race, nationality, religion, political opinion, disability, age, sex or sexual orientation,
                                      - nationality,
 
- due to unfair conduct by an EU body,
 
- consulate or embassy, due to:
                                       - loss or theft of a travel document,
                                       - serious accidents, illness, death,
                                       - a violent crime,
                                       - arrests or detentions,
                                       - emergency aid or repatriation.