EU Citizenship, Nationality and Immigration: Outlook

Abstract

This chapter provides an outlook on the information on EU citizenship, nationality and immigration presented in the book. The book has highlighted that international and EU law is undergoing significant developments in nationality issues. EU citizenship is important because it invalidates ethnicity as the main component of nationality. Two directions for development can be envisaged. First, Member State nationals acting in different capacities become subject to EU regulation. Second, Member States remain the main players in nationality issues and only those nationals who opt to go to another Member State would be affected by EU law. This book has argued not only for strengthening EU citizenship but also looking at long term immigrants as if they were potential citizens equally dependent on society for protection of their rights. It can be concluded that allowing immigrants to apply for EU citizenship without naturalisation would have advantages and disadvantages. Keywords:EU citizenship; immigration; Member States; nationality; naturalisation