Ethnography of EU Citizenship among Young Romanian Workers Residing in France

Abstract (English)

The 1992 Maastricht Treaty grants non-national citizens of the European Union residing in another member state the right to vote in local and European elections in their country of residence—a political entitlement that complements the fundamental principle of freedom of movement and residence (Shaw, 2007). This right potentially affects 15 million EU citizens of voting age. In France, the second-largest host country for EU citizens, only about a quarter of them are registered to vote.

Since Romania’s accession to the European Union, migrations from Romania to Western Europe have significantly increased, particularly among low-wage workers. In France, Romanian nationals constitute the fourth-largest group of EU immigrants, with an estimated 100,000 citizens of voting age, many of whom are young workers. Despite this, voter registration among Romanian citizens remains exceptionally low—among the lowest of all EU national groups residing in France.

This paper presents findings from the REPERE Project (Recherche Empirique sur la Participation Electorale des Ressortissants Européens), which investigates the electoral participation of EU citizens living in France. We adopt an ethnographic lens to explore the lived experience of citizenship among Romanian migrants (Brändle, 2020 ; Brettell & al, 2006). Our team conducted in-depth monographic case studies in three French localities where young Romanian workers—among them members of the Roma community—form a significant demographic presence. Approximately 30 formal and informal interviews were conducted as part of the fieldwork.

Our findings lend support to the theory of transferability (Bueker, 2005 ; Voicu & al, 2014 ; Wals, 2011 ; White & al, 2008), which suggests that patterns of political disengagement established in the country of origin often persist following migration. Respondents expressed limited interest in political affairs and demonstrated a deep-seated mistrust of conventional political actors, including local elected representatives. Their relationship to EU citizenship tends to be shaped more by social and economic concerns than by civic participation, with a primary focus on leveraging opportunities for professional mobility. However, the presence and activity of political intermediaries—such as community organizers and local officials—can play a critical role in enabling and sustaining civic engagement at the municipal level.