Did you know? : 10 EU rights at a glance.
Date: 2014-04-29
Institutions: Directorate-General for Communication, Directorate-General for Justice
Subjects: European Union, European election, access to EU information, access to information, application of the law, citizens' Europe, civil rights, consumer protection, free movement of persons, free movement of workers, help for victims, local election, mixed marriage, political rights, public awareness campaign, public health, right to information, right to justice, right to vote, standard agreement health care, telephone charges, traveller

Did you know? 
10 EU rights at a glance 

European Commission
Directorates-General for Communication and for Justice  
Publications
1049 Brussels
BELGIUM

Manuscript completed in February 2014
24 pp.  — 17 x 17 cm

ISBN 978-92-79-35765-7
doi:10.2775/22234

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2014
© European Union, 2014
Reproduction is authorised. For any use or reproduction  
of individual photographs, permission must be sought directly  
from the copyright holder.

Printed in Luxembourg

Did you know? 
10 EU rights at a glance

Being a European citizen means you benefit from all the big 
things: a continent at peace, the world’s biggest economy, 
the freedom to move – things we often take for granted.  
But it also means all the small, everyday things that make 
a real and daily difference. Like being able to send back  
a faulty good you ordered online, low roaming costs or com-
pensation for cancelled flights – all of that is Europe working 
for you. And we’ll keep on working for you.

Viviane Reding, 
European Commission, 
Vice-President responsible for Justice, 
Fundamental Rights and Citizenship

Did you know?  
10 EU rights at a glance
  1. European and local elections 
  2. Making your voice heard 
  3. Free movement 
  4. Health 
  5. Consumer rights 
  6. Travel 
  7. Telecoms 
  8. Cross-border divorces and separations 
  9. Crime victims’ rights and a fair trial 
  10. Information and guidance 

1. European and local elections

2

As an EU citizen you have the right to: 

•  vote and be a candidate in European Parliament 
elections in the EU country where you reside, under 
the same conditions as the nationals of that country; 

•  vote and be a candidate in local elections in the EU 
country where you reside, under the same conditions 
as nationals of that country. 

DAVID IS RUNNING IN THE ELECTIONS 
David has lived in the Portuguese town of Vila for 
quite a few years now. He gets on well with the people 
and knows what’s going on. The municipal elections 
come around and one of the parties wants to field him 
as a candidate. David would like to be on the local 
council – he sees it as a way of serving a community 
that made him feel welcome. His only concern is that 
he isn’t a Portuguese national. Like a number of peo-
ple in Vila, David is British. But as an EU citizen resi-
dent in Vila, he has the right to stand in municipal 
elections there. 

Did you know?
To make European Parliament elections even 
more democratic, the European Commission 
recommended that European parties name 
their preferred candidate as President of  
the European Commission.
The Members of the European Parliament 
represent the EU’s 507 million citizens and 
make decisions in practically all policy areas, 
including mobile phone charges, regulation of 
banks and protection of personal data.

3

Did you know?
In 14 Member States, an EU citizen may become 
the mayor of the municipality where she or he 
resides, without being a national of that country. 
In the most recent local elections held in the EU, 
more than 2 000 EU citizens stood as candi-
dates in the Member State where they resided, 
without having the nationality of that state. 

Your EU electoral rights: http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/residence/elections-abroad/index_en.htm

4

SARAH’S VOICE
Sarah is a British citizen. She moved to France but 
still kept closely in touch with developments in the 
United Kingdom (UK) and continued to vote in the 
national elections. However, after having resided in 
France for 15 years, she was no longer entitled to 
vote in the UK’s national elections. Sarah did not 
understand this rule. Why should she lose her right 
to vote in the UK because she has exercised her right 
to free movement in the EU? She petitioned the 
European Parliament and wrote to the Commission. 
The Commission heard her voice (and the voice of 
many other citizens of Cyprus, Denmark, Ireland, 
Malta and the UK in a similar situation) and issued 
guidance proposing practical solutions for EU citi-
zens to retain their right to vote in national elections.

2. Making your voice heard

As an EU citizen you have the right to:

•  have your say on plans for new EU laws;

•  launch or support a European citizens’ initiative to invite 
the European Commission to propose legislation on 
a specific issue on which it has competence, such as the 
environment, agriculture, transport or public health;

•  petition the European Parliament or the European Om-
budsman if you have a complaint relating to EU issues.

Did you know?
In 2013, some 141 online EU consultations 
were open to citizens on topics and possible  
EU actions ranging from transport to consumer 
affairs and from public health to taxation.
The European Commission has held more than 
50 citizens’ dialogues in all 28 Member States. 
They enable citizens to debate directly with 
EU Commissioners, Members of the European 
Parliament, and national, regional and local 
politicians.

5

Did you know?
To organise a European citizens’ initiative, 
citizens must form a committee of at least 
seven EU citizens resident in at least seven 
different Member States. When these organisers 
have collected one million signatures, the 
Commission carefully examines their initiative 
and meets them. They also have the opportunity 
to present their initiative at a public hearing in 
the European Parliament. The Commission then 
gives a formal response spelling out what action 
it will propose and the reasons for doing so, 
or explaining why it cannot take action.

How to make your voice heard at EU level: http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/index_en.htm
Check out the ongoing citizens’ initiatives: http://ec.europa.eu/citizens-initiative
Check out the citizens’ dialogues: http://ec.europa.eu/debate-future-europe/citizens-dialogues/index_en.htm 

3. Free movement

As an EU citizen you have the right to:

•  train and study anywhere in the EU under the same 

conditions as nationals; 

•  work anywhere in the EU and benefit from the oppor-

tunities offered by an EU-wide labour market.

6

Did you know?
In 2012, some 6.6 million EU citizens worked 
in an EU country other than their own.  
EURES is the European network of employment 
services which helps you to find a job in 
another EU country. 
The EU is working on the recognition of profes-
sional qualifications to make it easier for citizens 
to work elsewhere in the EU. 

Did you know?
With over 14 million EU citizens resident in 
another Member State, free movement – or 
the ability to live, work and study anywhere in 
the Union – is the EU right most cherished by 
Europeans.
Erasmus+, will enable over four million European 
students, trainees, teachers and trainers in the 
years 2014-20 to have an education or training 
experience abroad.
The EU is also promoting student mobility by 
making it easier to have academic qualifica-
tions recognised. 

ANDREW’S MOVE
Andrew decided to leave his job as an architect in 
the Czech Republic and join his wife in Italy, where 
she went to study. Thanks to EURES, he was able to 
find out what job opportunities are available to him 
in Italy. His Czech professional qualification as an 
architect is directly recognised in Italy, and he is 
allowed to apply for jobs on the same terms as 
Italians. He has also received information about 
opportunities to learn Italian.

7

Your free movement rights in full: http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/residence/index_en.htm

8

SABINE’S ANKLE
Sabine from Germany breaks her ankle while visiting 
Lithuania. Not a pleasant thing to happen anywhere, 
and even less so when you’re far from home. But at 
least she needn’t worry about seeking treatment. 
Just by showing her European health insurance card 
and her identity card, she gets all the care she needs. 
The European health insurance card entitles her to 
reimbursement from her German health insurer,  
in accordance with Lithuanian tariffs.

4. Health

As an EU citizen you have the right to:

•  receive necessary healthcare in any EU country,  
if you unexpectedly fall ill or have an accident during 
a visit to another EU country. You will receive public 
healthcare under the same conditions as people insured 
in the host country. You can claim reimbursement either 
in the country that you are visiting while you are still 
there or when you go back to the country where you  
are insured. Ask your insurer for your European health 
insurance card before you go abroad; 

•  choose to get planned healthcare in another EU 
country and be reimbursed for it at home, fully or 
partially depending on the circumstances. In some 
cases you might need to seek prior authorisation 
from your insurer;

•  benefit from some of the highest food safety 
standards in the world. Compulsory checks take place 
throughout the agri-food chain to ensure that plants 
and animals are healthy and that food and animal 
feed is safe, of high quality, appropriately labelled and 
meets strict EU standards. 

9

Did you know?
In every EU country, a free European health 
insurance card is available from your statutory 
health insurer. If you show it, you will receive 
medically necessary public healthcare under the 
same conditions as locals. Even if you don’t have 
your card with you, you are entitled to healthcare 
– and once back home, you can ask your health 
insurance institution for reimbursement.
Prior authorisation for planned medical 
treatment cannot be refused by your insurer if 
you have to wait too long for the treatment at 
home. Each EU country has a national contact 
point which can provide you with detailed 
information on your rights.
The EU is promoting an eHealth network among 
European countries. eHealth uses information 
technologies to facilitate access to life-saving 
clinical data available in emergencies,  
to improve the quality of healthcare and access  
to medical expertise and to promote patients’ 
empowerment. In certain circumstances patients 
can receive treatment remotely, including 
monitoring of chronic patients from a distance, 
checking vital statistics such as blood pressure, 
body temperature and sleep rhythms. 

All your EU-wide health rights: http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/health/index_en.htm

5. Consumer rights

As an EU citizen you have the right to:

•  rely on fair treatment: consumers are protected from 
unfair terms in contracts that would create excessively 
heavy obligations for them vis-à-vis the trader;

•  receive full information before you buy: misleading 
and aggressive marketing practices by traders are not 
allowed. Sufficient information must be given to allow 
informed choices;

•  profit from strong protection when shopping online: 
for instance consumers get 14 days to send back 
products which do not meet their expectations;

•  get a solution if something goes wrong: if goods are 
faulty, consumers can ask for repair, replacement or,  
if this is not possible, a price reduction or refund;

•  benefit from greatly improved product safety: 
thanks to the EU’s rapid alert system for products oth-
er than food which allows unsafe goods to be identi-
fied and removed from the market quickly to protect 
consumers.

10

Did you know?
You can use a quick and easy procedure for small 
claims to get your money back.  
Judgements delivered under this procedure are 
recognised and enforceable in other EU Member 
States without the need to physically go to court. 
The procedure currently applies for purchases 
of up to € 2 000 and the Commission recently 
proposed to raise this threshold to € 10 000.  
It can be used in all EU Member States except 
Denmark. Soon you will be able to complete 
and submit the claim online. 

KAMIL’S COURT CASE
Kamil often buys goods online. But after a long time 
without any problems, he finds himself in a dispute 
with a trader in another EU country and contem-
plates legal action. The trader refers him to a stand-
ard contract term requiring that, in case of disputes, 
the consumer can only bring an action against the 
trader in courts in the trader’s country of establish-
ment. Kamil has the right to refuse to respect this 
clause: terms which restrict consumers’ legal rights, 
including their right to take legal action against the 
trader in their own country, are unfair and banned 
throughout the EU. 

11

Check out your EU consumer rights: http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/shopping/index_en.htm

6. Travel

As an EU citizen you have the right to:

•  rely on being protected by a full set of passenger rights 
whether you travel by air, rail, ship, bus or coach. Pas-
sengers enjoy the right to information, assistance and, 
in certain circumstances, compensation in case of can-
cellation or long delay; 

•  enjoy extra protection if you buy package holidays. 
Your rights include information in brochures, rights to 
cancel without penalty, liability for the seller for ser-
vices (for example if you end up in a substandard  
hotel) and protection if a tour operator or airline goes 
bankrupt; 

•  go to any other EU Member State’s consulate or em-
bassy to ask for help, when you travel to a country out-
side the EU and your home country is not represented 
there (for instance if you lose important documents, 
have a serious accident or are arrested). EU Member 
States must help citizens of other Member States to 
leave a country in crisis situations; 

12

•  travel without discrimination if you have a dis a bility 
or reduced mobility. EU rules make sure you have the 
right to assistance when you travel by air, train, ship and 
bus or coach. It is always better to inform your carrier 
of your needs before you travel. If you are entitled to 
use disabled parking facilities in your home country, the 
EU standard model for disability parking cards will give 
you the same access to parking facilities in other EU 
countries. The conditions of the country of destination 
always apply.

PAUL’S TRAIN
Paul’s international train is now running two and 
a half hours late. But he travels within the EU, so he 
receives compensation. As the delay is over one hour, 
he could opt to cancel his journey and get his fare 
refunded immediately. Instead, he decides to sit it 
out. As a result, he is entitled to meals and refresh-
ments proportionate to his waiting time. In any case, 
he knows that if he is completely stranded later on, he 
has the right to an overnight hotel stay at no cost to 
himself. In the end, the train finally turns up and Paul 
travels on to his destination. But as the delay was 
more than two hours, he claims back 50 % of his fare.

 
13

Did you know?

You can check your EU passenger rights  
anytime, anywhere. Download the passenger  
rights smartphone app: 

http://ec.europa.eu/ 
transport/passenger-rights/ 
en/mobile.html 

Explore your EU travel rights: http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/index_en.htm

7. Telecoms

As an EU citizen you have the right to:

•  benefit from a guaranteed reasonable quality of fixed 
telecoms service at affordable prices, regardless of 
where you live in the EU;

•  shop around and easily compare prices. Operators 
have to provide transparent, up-to-date information 
on prices and tariffs of telecoms services;

•  receive a written contract from your phone company 
with clear information about the services you have 
signed up for, with specific details, in particular on tar-
iffs and costs, and the option of ending the contract if 
the supplier changes the terms;

•  change your telecoms operator without changing 

your phone number, within one day;

•  use your phone anywhere in the EU knowing you will 

pay fair roaming prices.

14

Did you know?
You can dial 112, the EU-wide emergency 
number, free from any mobile or fixed phone, 
everywhere in the EU. Available 24/7, this 
number works in all EU Member States. 
Operators speaking a range of languages will 
put you through to the right emergency service. 
The use of 112 as a unique or parallel emer-
gency number has been spreading. It is now 
available in about 80 countries.
There is now a hotline number (116 000) for 
missing children. Parents, children, or those with 
information about a missing child can dial the 
same number. It will connect you to an experi-
enced organisation able to provide support and 
practical assistance. 

GUISEPPE’S ROAMING BILL
Guiseppe spends a few days in London. He uses his 
smartphone and tablet computer a lot: checking an 
online map each day, surfing on the Internet every 
evening, posting holiday snaps to his blog and sending 
work-related e-mails. But thanks to the EU’s current 
roaming rules, this will cost Guiseppe no more than  
€ 20, almost € 500 less than he would have paid five 
years ago. 

15

More details on rights for telecom users: http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/users-rights
and EU roaming rules: http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/roaming

8. Cross-border divorces and separations

16

EVA AND ROLF‘S FAMILY 
Eva from Hungary and Rolf from Germany live in 
Italy. They have one daughter, Anna. After some 
years, Eva wanted to divorce. Thanks to EU rules, Eva 
was able to file for divorce in Italy. As Eva and Rolf 
are on good terms, they signed an agreement choos-
ing German law for their divorce, which the Italian 
court applied. Since Eva and Rolf’s daughter, Anna, 
also lives in Italy, the Italian court could also decide 
on Anna’s custody and her parents’ visiting rights. On 
Eva’s request, the Italian court determined the main-
tenance for Anna. 

As an EU citizen you have the right to:

•  rely on legal certainty, predictability and flexibility 
when your family situation involves more than one EU 
country. EU rules applicable in most EU countries help 
you determine: 
-  which country’s courts are competent to decide 
your divorce or legal separation, determine the cus-
tody and visiting rights over your children;

-  which country’s law the courts will apply to your di-
vorce or legal separation. This will help to avoid 
a rush to court by a spouse keen to apply the nation-
al law that best serves his or her own interests. This 
happens only if the spouses, in a divorce case with 
an international dimension, do not reach their own 
agreement on which law to use;

-  which country’s law the courts will apply to fix 

maintenance for your children;

•  have your judgment on divorce or legal separation, cus-
tody and visiting rights over your children and mainte-
nance for your children given in one EU country more 
easily recognised and enforced in another EU country.

17

Did you know?
Of the 2.4 million marriages in the EU in 2007, 
about 300 000 had a cross-border element.  
So did 140 000 (13 %) of the 1.04 million 
divorces that took place in the EU in the 
same year.

EU divorce and separation rules explained: 

http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/family/couple/divorce-separation/index_en.htm 

http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/family/children/parental-responsibility/index_en.htm

http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/family/couple/maintenance/index_en.htm

9. Crime victims’ rights and a fair trial

18

As an EU citizen you have the right to:

•  rely on specific safeguards if you are a victim of 

a crime anywhere in the EU;

•  rely on getting a fair trial anywhere in the EU, if you 
are suspected or accused of having committed a crime. 
This includes the right to interpretation and translation, 
information on procedural rights and on the accusation 
against you, the right to a lawyer and the right to com-
municate, on arrest, with your family and consulate.

Did you know?
From January 2015, victims of violence will be 
protected EU-wide. The European protection 
order will enable a protection measure issued 
against a perpetrator in one EU country to be 
recognised and enforced in another EU country.
From November 2015, victims will: 
•  get information about their rights straight away;
•  have access to victim support services 
according to their individual needs;
•  have guaranteed procedural rights such as the 
right to interpretation and translation, the right 
to legal aid, the right to review a decision not  
to prosecute and the right to be heard; 
•  be protected against secondary and repeat 
victimisation according to their individual 
needs (for instance by limiting the number  
of interviews and medical examinations,  
by arranging interviews by a specially trained 
person or by ensuring special measures to 
avoid visual contact with an offender during 
court proceedings).

JUSTICE FOR VALÉRIE 
While holidaying in another Member State, Valérie is 
violently attacked and robbed. At the police station, 
she receives information on her rights in her language 
and an interpreter is called so that she can make her 
statement in her mother tongue. She receives a trans-
lated, written acknowledgment of her complaint and 
is informed about the next steps. She is also referred 
to a specialised victim support organisation. Once 
back in her country, the authorities in the Member 
State where she was assaulted keep her informed 
about all the stages of the criminal proceedings.  
She testifies and eventually the offender is convicted. 
As of the end of 2015, these safeguards will apply 
throughout the EU.

19

Did you know?

that: 

Around 9 million people face criminal  
justice proceedings every year in the EU. 
This includes more than 1 million children who 
are brought into formal contact with the police, 
prosecuted, in pre-trial detention or brought 
before criminal courts.
In November 2013, the Commission proposed 
•  children should have special safeguards when 
facing criminal proceedings: mandatory access 
to a lawyer at all stages, enhanced informa-
tion, assistance by parents and special 
protection in case of deprivation of liberty;
•  suspects or accused persons who are deprived 
of liberty should have access to provisional  
legal aid in the early stages of the proceedings; 
•  the right to be present at trial and important 
aspects of the presumption of innocence 
should be reinforced.

EU rights for crime victims: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/criminal/victims/index_en.htm  
EU rights for suspects and the accused: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/criminal/criminal-rights/index_en.htm  

10. Information and guidance

As an EU citizen you have the right to:

•  contact the EU in your own language and get  
information and assistance on your EU rights.

Did you know?
You can contact the Europe Direct Contact 
Centre, which answers all sorts of questions 
on EU-related matters by phone  
(00800 6 7 8 9 10 11), e-mail and web chat  
or visit the Europe Direct Information Centre  
in the region or town where you live. 
You can visit the website Your Europe for 
practical information in your language on your 
rights when moving, living, studying, training, 
working, shopping or simply travelling abroad. 
Representation offices of the European Com-
mission are also at your service in your country.

20

SOME QUESTIONS EUROPE DIRECT ANSWERED 
FOR CITIZENS IN 2013 

‘I read that in 2014 we will vote for the European 
Parliament but I don’t really know when. Moreover, 
given that I’m from Italy but live in Spain, do I have the 
right to vote in my current place of residence?’

‘I am Czech and live with my family in the Czech 
Republic. However, I work in Slovakia and commute 
to work every day. In which country are my family 
and I covered by my medical insurance?’

‘I am an Italian citizen who has been offered a perma-
nent job in Germany. Is my American husband entitled 
to live and work in Germany?’

‘I am a university graduate from France. I found 
a fixed-term job contract in London from the end of 
June. Do I need a residence permit? Who do I contact 
for this?’

‘I bought a computer online from a German website but 
it does not work properly. What should I do? Are there 
general rules for returning goods purchased online?’

‘I was supposed to fly from Paris to Sofia, but on my 
arrival at the airport I was informed that my flight was 
delayed by 3 ½ hours due to technical failure. Is there 
any EU legislation that would protect my rights?’

21

A one-stop shop webpage sets out your EU rights and how to make sure they are respected:

http://ec.europa.eu/your-rights/info/individuals/index_en.htm

Your EU contact points

Europe Direct 
Find your nearest regional EU information centre at  
http://europedirect.europa.eu

European Commission Representations 
European Commission Representation in Ireland
European Union House
18 Dawson Street
Dublin 2
IRELAND
Tel. +353 16341111
Website: http://www.ec.europa.eu/ireland

European Commission Representation  
in the United Kingdom
Europe House
32 Smith Square
London SW1P 3EU
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel. +44 2079731992
Website: http://www.ec.europa.eu/uk

22

European Commission Office in Northern Ireland
74-76 Dublin Road
Belfast BT2 7HP
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel. +44 2890240708

European Commission Office in Scotland
9 Alva Street
Edinburgh EH2 4PH
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel. +44 1312252058

European Commission Office in Wales
2 Caspian Point, Caspian Way
Cardiff CF10 4QQ
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel. +44 2920895020

European Parliament Information Offices
European Parliament Information Office in Ireland
43 Molesworth Street
Dublin 2
IRELAND
Tel. +353 16057900 
Website: http://www.europarl.ie 

 
23

European Ombudsman
1 avenue du Président Robert Schuman
CS 30403
67001 Strasbourg Cedex
FRANCE 
Tel. +33 388172313 
Website: http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu 

European Parliament Information Office  
in the United Kingdom
Europe House
32 Smith Square
London SW1P 3EU
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel. +44 2072274300
Website: http://www.europarl.org.uk

European Parliament Information Office in Edinburgh 
The Tun, 4 Jackson’s Entry
Holyrood Road
Edinburgh EH8 8PJ
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel. +44 1315577866

Petitions Committee of the European Parliament
European Parliament
Rue Wiertz/Wiertzstraat 60
1047 Brussels 
BELGIUM 
Website: http://europa.eu/!WK63bX
http://www.facebook.com/PETITIONS.EU

The European Union

24

Member States of the European Union (2014)

Candidate countries and potential candidates

Lefkosa

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Did you know? 
10 EU rights at a glance