31

The Maastricht Treaty instituted the concept of citizenship of the European Union, which is granted to the citizens of the Union?s member states. The political rights it conferred include the right to vote and to stand for local elections and elections of members of the European Parliament in the country of residence. Between the procrastination of certain member states, for whom any political right is considered a matter of national sovereignty and who have therefore dragged their feet regarding the implementation in national legislation, and the resistance by citizens to practically take up their new rights, the hesitant adoption of these new electoral rights illustrates the incomplete nature of the political construction of Europe.