Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the ' Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 94/80/EC laying down detailed arrangements for the exercise of the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in municipal elections by citizens of the Union residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals'
Date: 1996-02-29
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: European citizenship, foreign national, local election, right to stand for election, right to vote













EUR-Lex - 51996AC0253 - EN






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51996AC0253

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the ' Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 94/80/EC laying down detailed arrangements for the exercise of the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in municipal elections by citizens of the Union residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals'  


Official Journal C 153 , 28/05/1996 P. 0045 





Opinion of the Economic and  Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 94/80/EC  laying down detailed arrangements for the exercise of the right to vote and to stand as a candidate  in municipal elections by citizens of the Union residing in a Member State of which they are not  nationals'(96/C 153/09)On 7  February 1996, the Council decided to consult the Economic  and Social Committee, under Article  198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the  above-mentioned proposal. The Committee instructed the Section for Social, Family, Educational and Cultural Affairs to  prepare its work on the subject. In the course of its work, the Committee appointed Mr Cal as  Rapporteur-General (Rule 20 of the Rules of Procedure). At its 333rd Plenary Session (meeting of 29  February 1996), the Economic and Social Committee  unanimously adopted the following Opinion. 1. Introduction1.1. The proposal amends Directive 94/80/EC by adding references to the  basic local government units in the new Member States (Austria, Finland and Sweden). 1.2. The Committee approves the proposal. 2. General comments2.1. The Committee notes that the present proposal and the Directive being  amended seek to apply Article  8b of the Treaty, which requires that 'every citizen residing in a  Member State of which he is not a national shall have the right to vote and to stand as a candidate  at municipal elections in the Member State in which he resides, under the same conditions as  nationals of that State.'2.2. The Committee points out with regard to the extension of voting  rights at municipal elections that the requisite adjustments must be made in order to strengthen  citizens' sense of involvement in the European Union and the idea of European citizenship. 2.3. The Committee emphasizes that it is important for EU citizens to participate in local affairs  and municipal elections. Such participation should help to improve mutual understanding and  encourage nationals of other Member States to become more closely involved in the life of their  local communities, as well as helping to make the public authorities and political groups more  aware of their situation. 2.4. The Committee reiterates the comments made in earlier Opinions (), and stresses the need to  safeguard the principle of non-discrimination on the grounds of nationality between Community  citizens, as enshrined in the Treaty and confirmed by case law (). Done at Brussels, 29 February 1996. The Presidentof the Economic and Social CommitteeCarlos FERRER() Opinion of  14. 9. 1994 in OJ No C 393, 31. 12. 1994.  () Judgements of the Court of Justice C-92/92 and C-362/92.