WRITTEN QUESTION P-3010/01 by Gian Gobbo (NI) to the Commission. Identity card for European citizens residing in Belgium.
Date: 2001-10-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, EU Member State, EU national, free movement of persons, identity document, passport

16.5.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/211

(2002/C 115 E/222)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2996/01

by Francesco Speroni (NI) to the Commission

(22 October 2001)

Subject: Identity papers

The answer to this Member’s Written Question P-2506/01 (1) quotes Council Directive 68/360/EEC (2),
which refers to citizens travelling to a Member State other than their own in order to move and settle
there and to the free movement of workers.

The question referred to people who find themselves in a Member State other than their own for any
reason, not necessarily in order to settle and work there, and in any case the Commission’s answer stated
that it is compulsory to produce the papers stipulated by national legislation.

Once again, can the Commission provide a list of the papers, other than identity cards or passports,
considered valid for the purposes of identification in the various Member States?

(1) OJ C 40 E, 14.2.2002, p. 246.
(2) OJ L 257, 19.10.1968, p. 13.

(2002/C 115 E/223)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3010/01

by Gian Gobbo (NI) to the Commission

(22 October 2001)

Subject: Identity card for European citizens residing in Belgium

According to the answer to Written Question P-2506/01 (1) by Mr Speroni, Community law stipulates that
EU citizens travelling to other Member States must be in possession of an identity card or passport.

However, the Belgian State refuses to issue identity cards to EU citizens who are resident in Belgium but
not Belgian citizens, which means that they must carry their passports when they travel.

Can the Commission say whether this attitude on the part of Belgium is compatible with EU legislation
and whether it does not consider it appropriate to draw up a directive harmonising the relevant laws of
the Member States?

(1) OJ C 40 E, 14.2.2002, p. 246.

Joint answer
to Written Questions P-2996/01 and P-3010/01
given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(15 November 2001)

The Commission can only confirm that valid identity cards or passports are the only documents
recognised by all Member States when Union citizens leave their own country for a Member State other
than the one of which they are a national; the status of the citizen in question (employee or self-employed
worker, student, pensioner, service provider, person receiving services, etc.) is irrelevant in this context.

However, under the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Communities, the Member
States also recognise the laissez-passer issued to members and employees of the European institutions.

Identity cards or passports are issued by the Member State of which the citizen is a national, as these
documents are issued or renewed in accordance with national
indicate the citizen’s
nationality. Belgium’s position is in accordance with Community law. The Commission has no plans to
propose the adoption of a Community instrument on the issue to Union citizens of identity cards or
passports or on the renewal of such documents.

law and must