Written question asked by Viscount Waverley (Crossbench) on Wednesday, 13 April 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 27 April 2016. It was answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative) on Wednesday, 27 April 2016 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

EU Countries: British Nationals Abroad

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the event of the UK leaving the EU, UK citizens living in EU member states will retain all of their rights as UK citizens and will continue to be treated the same as if they were resident in the UK.

Answer: British citizens living in the EU currently enjoy a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, health care and public services that are only guaranteed because of EU law. There would be no requirement under EU law for these rights to be maintained if the UK left the EU. Should an agreement be reached to maintain these rights, the expectation must be that this would have to be reciprocated for EU citizens in the UK.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL7608
Session: 2015-16
Subjects: British nationals abroad EU countries EU withdrawal UK membership of EU
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk