Written question asked by Lord Laird (Ulster Unionist Party), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Henley (Conservative) on Monday, 27 February 2012.

Immigration

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Henley on 6 February (WA 13 and 14), whether the United Kingdom is obliged to follow the Zambrano judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union; what is its relevance to the United Kingdom; whether it can be appealed; and what are the major implications for the United Kingdom arising from it.

Answer: The Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) handed down the judgment in the case of Ruiz Zambrano (C-34/09) in March 2011. The Home Office is considering the implications of this judgment and its effect on the rights of third-country nationals with a dependent Union citizen and is in the process of finalising its policy, including possible changes to the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 (““the Regulations””) that would be required in order to enable the issue of documentation on this basis. Judgments handed down by the ECJ are binding on all member states and cannot be appealed.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 15610; 735 c277WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Immigration
Monday, 6 February 2012
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Children Immigration EU nationals Judgements Parents Court of Justice of the European Union
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk