European Civil Society House
Name Change of Belgian resident of Spanish-Welsh decent
There are over 18 millions of EU citizens who live in another EU Member State. Even though European integration is ever more successful, naturally some difficulties are encountered in day to day life. In Spanish tradition for example a surname consisting of the two family names of the parents is given to the child, a tradition which is difficult to enforce in Belgium even though there is well established case law from the European Court of Justice which clearly allows citizens to follow the naming tradition of their country of origin. read more
You have more European rights and more ways to claim them than you imagine. When the EU Institutions take decisions and the 27 Member States apply them, they are bound by a Charter of Fundamental Rights. And, for the first time, Europeans have a right to take transnational democratic initiatives: over one million citizens can demand a new EU law. There is often though a gap between the fine principles of European law and how it is actually applied on the ground. There is no clear European citizens’ charter of enforceable rights. Communication about the ways to enforce rights is also scattered across different Institutions and departments. That is why we are bringing everything together in a one-stop shop.
The team behind the one stop shop are there to help solve problems and take on serious violations of European rights. If you are looking for information and advice, we suggest you go first to Europe Direct and Your Europe advice.
Citizenshouse.eu is a 360 degree resource by citizens for citizens to learn, share and engage. It has been created by ECAS as the first stage in an ambitious project to set up the European Civil Society House in Brussels and EU Member States.
Useful links
-
- Eur-lex - access to European law
- Europa - information on your rights, the European Union and its activities
- Europe direct - answering your questions on the EU and your rights
- European Commission - information on all activities of the Commission as well as providing general information on the EU
- European Consumers Centre Network (ECC – Net) - legal and practical advice and assistance if you encounter a problem in cross border shopping
- European Council - information on the European Council, meetings and access to Council documents
- European Court of Justice - database to search cases and information on the court
- European Ombudsman - information on the work of the European Ombudsman and how to make a request
- European Parliament - information on the European Parliament, MEPs, Committees and activity
- Solvit - problem solving for cross border issues with National administrations who have not adequately applied EU law
- Your Europe - information on your rights for citizens and businesses
- Your Europe Advice (YEA) - free advice on your legal rights
