Press Release: EU initiative to strengthen consular protection for citizens outside the European Union

Thousands of EU citizens travel, work and study outside the EU each year. According to a Eurobarometer study published in 2006 only 23% of them are aware that they can turn to another Member State for help if their own Member State is not represented in that third country. Crises in recent years, such as the tsunami in 2004 and the Lebanon conflict in 2006, showed the need for action at EU level to improve the protection of Union citizens in the world. The Commission has adopted an Action Plan for the period 2007-2009 to help to make the right to consular protection a reality for all citizens.

European Commission: MEMO/07/551: EU initiative to strengthen consular protection for citizens outside the European Union http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/551&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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