The future of European citizenship

This evening invites a focused conversation on the practical limits of EU citizenship, through the lens of a legal case currently before Belgium’s Constitutional Court. The case was launched by a Brussels-based EU citizen whose candidacy for the European Parliament was undermined when over 90% of supporting signatures—mostly from fellow EU citizens—were invalidated due to their absence from the national electoral registry.

Although European citizens have the right to vote and stand in EU elections, the implementation of these rights still varies widely across member states. This case opens a broader discussion on how institutional frameworks either enable or restrict democratic participation—and what this reveals about the evolving nature of European citizenship.

The discussion will bring together a small group of legal experts, political actors, and civil society voices to reflect on the implications of this case and the broader challenges it highlights.

Speakers:

Suzana Carp

Co-founder of the ECIT Foundation and former lead candidate for Volt Europa in francophone Belgium.

Kris Wauters

Professor of public law at KU Leuven and member of the Fellowship of Public Law Attorneys.

Alejandro Peinado

Board member of the Union of European Federalists.

Keiran Foster

Senior public affairs consultant and campaign lead for British in Brussels