The Right of EU Citizens to Diplomatic and Consular Protection: A Step Towards Recognition of EU Citizenship in Third Countries?

Among the rights pertaining to EU citizens, this chapter analyses the right to diplomatic and consular assistance in third countries. The direct effectiveness of this right is at issue both due to the content of the right itself and the fact that this is the only EU citizen's right that must be exercised outside the territorial scope of EU law. The role and behaviour of third countries is therefore relevant in order to determine the effectiveness of EU law at the "external level" and, consequently, of the right to consular assistance