The evolution and the evaluation of EU citizenship in the EU federalizing process

This paper explores the evolution and the evaluation of EU citizenship in connection with the European federalising process. Firstly, after pointing out the implication of citizenship for the integration policies and the federalizing process, the meaning, the characteristics and the implications of the concept of citizenship in the European context (precisely the relationship between EU and national citizenships) will be analysed. Secondly, the challenges which influence the role of EU citizenship will be highlighted, focusing on the debate, the possible remedies, and the solution proposed by scholars and Institutions. In this reconstruction, particular attention will be paid to the case law of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), considered to be the engine of the EU integration process. By drawing on some elements of comparison with the US historical experience, the study wants to demonstrate which model may function better with the stage of the European integration process and the need to preserve the balance between unity and diversity.