Letter dated 12 January 2007, from Liam
Byrne MP, Minister of State, Home Office
During the course of the evidence session on
6 December I undertook to provide a response to the question from
Ms Katy Clark about plans other EU member states have for implementing
the Regulation and associated costs, and one from Mr Angus Robertson
about difficulties encountered by British subjects with a connection
to Ireland in entering the territory of an EU member state.
I have asked my officials to make enquiries
through our overseas posts about the plans other EU member states
have for implementing the regulation and how much it is costing
them. These enquiries will inevitably take a little time and there
is no guarantee about the extent of any information we are able
to obtain. I will write to the committee again within four weeks
and report on what information has come to light.
Holders of British Subject Passports who have
a right of abode in the United Kingdom are treated as European
Union (EU) citizens under Article 17 of the Treaty of the European
Community. This means that they are entitled to free movement
within the EU and the European Economic Area and are not required
to obtain a visa prior to travelling to a member state. Bulgaria
became a member of EU on 1 January 2007.
Irish born British Subject Passport holders
travelling to Bulgaria should no longer have a problem gaining
entry into the country as they have a right of abode in the United
Kingdom and are therefore classed as EU citizens.
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