Know your rights
Every citizen of the Union shall, in the territory of a third country in which the Member State of which he or she is a national is not represented, be entitled to protection by the diplomatic or consular authorities of any Member State, on the same conditions as the nationals of that Member State.
This right is enshrined in article 46 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
What to do if your rights have been breached
The authorities of EU countries are bound to comply with the Charter of Fundamental Rights only when implementing EU law. Fundamental rights are protected by your country's constitution.
Addressing your complaint to the relevant national authority, government, national courts or a specialised human rights body.
What the Commission is doing to protect your rights
Law
Directive 2015/637/EU of 20 April 2015 on the coordination and cooperation measures to facilitate consular protection for unrepresented citizens of the Union in third countries.
Related rights
Chapter 5 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is on citizens' rights. This chapter also contains the following rights
- right to vote and to stand as a candidate at elections to the European Parliament
- right to vote and to stand as a candidate at municipal elections
- right to good administration
- right of access to documents
- european ombudsman
- right to petition
- freedom of movement and of residence
- diplomatic and consular protection