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Leave to Enter (EEA and Swiss Nationals) Directions 2019

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

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A decision made on 10 April 2019:

MINISTERIAL DECISION REFERENCE: MD-HA-2019-0047

Decision Date: 9th April 2019

DECISION SUMMARY TITLE: Leave to Enter (EEA and Swiss Nationals) Directions

DECISION SUMMARY AUTHOR:

Private Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs

IS THE DECISION SUMMARY PUBLIC OR EXEMPT?  (if exempt state the relevant article/paragraph of the Freedom of Information Law/Regulations)

Public

REPORT TITLE: Leave to Enter (EEA and Swiss Nationals) Directions

REPORT AUTHOR OR NAME OF PERSON GIVING REPORT:  (if different from Decision  Summary Author)

Private Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs

IS THE REPORT PUBLIC OR EXEMPT  (if exempt state the relevant article/paragraph of the Freedom of Information Law/Regulations)

Public

DECISION AND REASON FOR THE DECISION:

The Minister for Home Affairs decided to make the Leave to Enter (EEA and Swiss Nationals) Directions 2019 (“the Directions”). 

 

The Directions are needed, so as to make the same provision in Jersey as Part 2, Chapter 1, of the Immigration (European Economic Area Nationals) (EU Exit) Order 2019 (“the 2019 Order”) has made in the UK concerning EEA and Swiss nationals, and their having automatic leave to enter the UK once free movement has ended. 

 

Under Paragraph 3(1), EEA and Swiss nationals will automatically be given leave to enter Jersey.

 

Under paragraph 6, EEA and Swiss nationals will automatically be given leave to enter Jersey for 3 months.

 

Under paragraph 4, this automatic leave to enter Jersey is subject to certain exceptions.  

 

The Directions will come into force when the UK Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016 are revoked. 

 

RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS: There are no financial or manpower implications arising from this decision.

 

ACTION REQUIRED: The Minister to sign the Directions; and the Leave to Enter (EEA and Swiss Nationals) Directions 2019 to be made available on gov.je once they have come into force.

 

SIGNATURE:

 

 

 

POSITION:

 

Connétable Len Norman

Minister for Home Affairs

DATE SIGNED:

EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE DECISION:

 

 

Leave to Enter (EEA and Swiss Nationals) Directions 2019

LEAVE TO ENTER (EEA AND SWISS NATIONALS) DIRECTIONS 2019

 

Further draft Directions are required to make the same provision in Jersey that Part 2, Chapter 1, of the Immigration (European Economic Area Nationals) (EU Exit) Order 2019 (“the 2019 Order”) has made in the UK concerning EEA and Swiss nationals, and their having automatic leave to enter the UK once free movement has ended.  Simply put, if the arrival of day-trippers from St. Malo is not to cause massive queues at the Harbour once free movement has ended, EEA/Swiss nationals need to be able to pass through immigration with no more let or hindrance than at present.  The draft Directions are intended to achieve that objective.

 

Background

 

  • Free movement, which exists by virtue of s. 7 of the Immigration Act 1988, will not end until the provisions in the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill concerning s. 7 become law. 

 

  • Therefore, even if the UK were to leave the EU by the end of this week, the 2019 Order would still only come into force after the Bill had received Royal Assent and the UK Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016 – which currently implement free movement in UK law – had been revoked (hence this part of the 2019 Order has been expressed not to come into force until the 2016 Regulations have been revoked).  Even without the present uncertainty surrounding the UK government’s negotiations with the EU, several weeks if not months have yet to pass before the 2016 Regulations will have been revoked.

 

  • Of course if and when free movement does end, EEA nationals will require leave to enter in the same way as nationals of any other country.  The purpose the 2019 Order in this respect is to provide that EEA nationals/Swiss will automatically be given leave to enter the UK for three months after free movement ends. 

 

  • The draft Directions would make exactly the same provision as regards leave to enter Jersey viz

 

  • paragraph 3(1): “A person to whom this paragraph applies has leave to enter Jersey.” and
  • paragraph 6: “Leave by virtue of paragraph 3 is given for a period of three months.”

 

  • There are exceptions to this right of automatic leave to enter, obviously.  Paragraph 4 of the draft Directions excludes persons subject deportation or exclusion orders, and the like.

 

Whilst the need for the Minister to issue the attached Directions is not immediate, it may be thought desirable to do so now, in order that Jersey is seen to be fully prepared (along with the UK) for handling arrivals efficiently once free movement ends.  The draft Directions are expressed to come into force when the UK Regulations [as defined] are revoked.  In other words they would be triggered when the UK counterpart is triggered by the revocation of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016 in the UK (i.e. the moment at which free movement ends).

 

 

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