EU Citizenship, Duties and Social Rights

Abstract

EU migrant citizens are often considered as outsiders, who access social benefits and services without having fulfilled their duties in the country of destination. As a group, however, EU migrant citizens are net contributors to the public purse in key destination countries. The current debate on duties of citizens within (con)federal jurisdictions has been rehearsed in different contexts, such as the North German Federation or the US, and the arguments are no different. EU citizenship must become an unconditional fundamental status, if it is to be meaningful.