The Infona portal uses cookies, i.e. strings of text saved by a browser on the user's device. The portal can access those files and use them to remember the user's data, such as their chosen settings (screen view, interface language, etc.), or their login data. By using the Infona portal the user accepts automatic saving and using this information for portal operation purposes. More information on the subject can be found in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By closing this window the user confirms that they have read the information on cookie usage, and they accept the privacy policy and the way cookies are used by the portal. You can change the cookie settings in your browser.
This paper's aim is to approach the issue of European citizenship by showing the dynamics of the related policies. While recognising the importance of the legal assessment of the Union citizenship as defined by the Treaties, much attention is paid to the socio-cultural meaning of the European citizenship, which stimulates the emergence of a supranational loyalty and a sense of belonging to the European Union. After an analysis of the historical development of the concept of European citizenship, it is empirically demonstrated that the success of the European citizenship policy depends critically on the capacity of the Union to meet the mainly pragmatic expectations of the citizens. Accordingly, the lack of a harmonised welfare system at the European level, which causes restrictions of the free movement of the Union citizens within the member states, proves to be the major disincentive of the European identification.