Bearing in mind recent international crisis such as the Tsunami in 2004, the terrorist attacks in Mumbai and the Bangkok airport blockade in November 2008,

UEF takes note of:

- the legal  existence of  the European citizenship since the Maastricht Treaty
- the weak implementation of the European consular protection
- the inefficient  diplomatic co-operation between Member States  in crisis situation

UEF regrets that:

- assistance to EU citizens is given on the basis of nationality, not of EU citizenship
- only Member States can offer diplomatic protection
- EU citizens holding multiple nationalities are disadvantaged when it comes to diplomatic protection

UEF urges:

- the full and  immediate application of the EU citizenship as foreseen since 1992 by the Maastricht Treaty
- the EC delegations to be empowered in matters of consular protection
- the Lisbon Treaty to be ratified and implemented as soon as possible, so that EU-citizens can benefit from the External Action Service

UEF calls:

- for an EU consular and diplomatic protection for all EU -citizens regardless their  nationality
- for the creation of a single EU consular emergency phone number
- for the possibility  for any EU-Member States to issue in crisis situation an EU passport
- its Bureau, FC and all sections to encourage the European political parties to put the European citizenship and its rights at the centre of the EP election campaign