Further supplementary written evidence
from the Minister for Europe
Thank you for your letter of 8 February asking
about the Lisbon Treaty and the possible impact in terms of responsibility
of UK Diplomatic and Consular Services for providing assistance
and protection to Commonwealth and Dependent Territory Citizens.
Although the United Kingdom is under no general
legal obligation to provide consular assistance to unrepresented
Commonwealth nationals, British Missions have by tradition been
responsible for the protection of the interests of all Commonwealth
countries that do not have a mission in a third country. Assistance
is discretionary and subject to resources.
British Overseas Territories Citizens (formerly
British Dependent Territories Citizens) living or travelling outside
the Overseas Territories are given the same assistance as any
other British national in difficulty.
The provisions of the Lisbon Treaty have no
impact on the basis on which we provide consular assistance to
either British Overseas Territories Citizens or unrepresented
Commonwealth nationals.
18 February 2008
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