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Written question asked by Viscount Waverley (Crossbench) on Thursday, 22 February 2018, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 8 March 2018. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Monday, 5 March 2018 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

British Nationals Abroad: EU Citizenship

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any UK minister, official, or embassy staff member has been in communication with any Netherlands minister, official, or embassy staff member, either directly or via a representative, regarding the decision by the District Court of Amsterdam (case number: C/13/640244/KG ZA 17-1327) to refer the question of whether UK citizens living in EU countries are entitled to keep their EU citizenship rights after Brexit to the Court of Justice of the European Union; and if so, what was the outcome of those discussions.

Answer

British Government officials have had limited conversations with Dutch counterparts on this case, principally in order to ascertain the factual details.

As regards the issue of UK citizens living in the EU after our exit from the European Union, the Government has secured a deal that will safeguard their rights, so that they can continue living their lives broadly as they do now. Our view is that EU treaty provisions state that only citizens of EU Member States are able to hold EU citizenship. Therefore, when the UK ceases to be a member of the European Union, British nationals will no longer hold EU citizenship, unless they hold dual nationality with another EU Member State.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL5807
Session
2017-19
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
British nationals abroad EU countries Netherlands Court of Justice of the European Union Brexit EU citizenship
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk