Brussels, 02/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - MEPs consider it is urgent to adopt an effective approach to information in order to make European citizens more aware of their rights and duties as EU citizens. An own-initiative report by Urszula Gacek (EPP-ED, Poland), adopted on Thursday 2 April by 578 votes to 64, suggests several measures that would allow the rights of European citizens to be consolidated. Only one third of European citizens consider they are well informed on their rights in the EU. Few resident citizens use their right of vote or run for European or municipal elections in member states other then their own. MEPs have therefore called on the European Commission to set in place an information and communication strategy to make citizens more aware of their rights. This strategy should above all focus on local and regional civil society organisations and social partners that are located outside Brussels. MEPs pointed out how important it is to have consular protection for all EU citizens without distinction of nationality. The Union should also take measures to prevent EU citizens from being subjected to the death penalty in third countries. The MEPs take the view that the Commission should use every means available to it to waive all transitional provisions as soon as possible concerning the free movement of workers and imposed on the new member states. Lastly, MEPs call on the Commission to continue negotiating for visa-free travel to non-EU countries for all member states. (B.C./transl.jl)