The Amsterdam Treaty: a Comprehensive Guide There are four categories of specific provisions and rights attached to citizenship

of the European Union:

freedom of movement and residence throughout the Union; the right to vote and stand as a candidate in municipal elections and in elections to the European Parliament in the state where he/she resides; protection by the diplomatic and consular authorities of any Member State where the State of which the person is a national is not represented in a non-member country, the right to petition the European Parliament and apply to the Ombudsman.

The Amsterdam Treaty completes the list of civic rights of Union citizens and clarifies the link between national citizenship and European citizenship. ADDITIONS BY THE AMSTERDAN TREATY Amendments have been made to Articles 17 and 21 (ex Articles 8 and 8(d)) of the EC Treaty, which define European citizenship. Firstly, the Amsterdam clarifies the link between European and national citizenship. It states unequivocally that "citizenship of the Union shall complement and not replace national citizenship". Two practical conclusions follow from this:

it is first necessary to be a national of a Member State in order to enjoy citizenship of the Union; European citizenship will supplement and complement the rights conferred by national citizenship.

Moreover, the Amsterdam Treaty has established a new right for European citizens. Every citizen of the Union can now write to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice, the Court of Auditors, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions or the Ombudsman in one of the twelve languages of the Treaties and receive an answer in the same language. As a reminder the twelve languages are: Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Irish (Gaelic), Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish. Lastly, a new paragraph has been inserted in the preamble of the EC Treaty. It confirms the commitment by the member states to the education of their peoples. Each member state undertakes "to promote the development of the highest possible level of knowledge through a wide access to education and through its continuous updating". -One of the major innovations introduced by the Treaty of Amsterdam in the European Community's social policy is the incorporation of a strengthened social agreement in the EC Treaty. Already all the Directives adopted by the 14 signatories to the agreement have been extended to the United Kingdom. The "reunification of the fifteen" restores unity and cohesion to the Community's social policy. It should encourage more frequent reliance on the social provisions of the EC Treaty and should broaden the policy's remit. Essentially, the Social Agreement has been incorporated as it stands. However, some provisions have been strengthened, especially those on equal opportunities and combating social exclusion. -Up to now the treaty required member states to ensure equal pay for men and women for equal work. With the Treaty of Amsterdam, a new legal basis has been introduced for measures on equal opportunities and equal treatThe new Article 153 (ex Article 129a) of the EC Treaty has the objective of ensuring a high level of consumer protection, rather than simply contributing to such protection. Moreover, it emphasises promoting the consumers' right to information and education and their right to organise themselves in order to safeguard their interests.ment of men and women at work. -A new Article 255 has been inserted, giving any Union citizen and any natural or legal person residing or having a registered office in a member state the right of access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents.