Her er en ny e-post til Liverpool City Council, om uttrykket 'European citizen'

Erik Ribsskog <eribsskog@gmail.com>

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FW: Electoral register

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Erik Ribsskog <eribsskog@gmail.com>	Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 12:27 PM
To: "Barker, Stephen" <Stephen.Barker@liverpool.gov.uk>
Hi, thank you very much for your answer! I would like to point out again, that it isn't clear, that it's EU-citizens who are eligable to vote, since you use the term 'European citizens', and not 'EU-citizen'. So I got tricked by this, right after I moved in, to a new flat. Because it also is a threat there, that says that I have to pay £1000 if I don't send the form, in the post. So then I thought, that I didn't want to get a fine, for £1000, so then I sent the form in the post. And on the airport, you also write 'European citizen', which I, as a Norwegian citizen, think is a confusing term. On the airport, there isn't even any small printing. One walks for about 20 more yards, and there's a new sign saying 'EU citizens', but then it's to late to turn, because all the other people on the flight, are from the UK, so it's packed with people, so you can't turn, and walk back, in the other queue. So I at least, has found this term 'European citizen' used for 'EU citizen', confusing. But anyway, I guess this is not such a big deal, It perhaps because we in Norway, learn that we are in Europe. Since we don't only think of continental Europe, as Europe, we also include Iceland, Scandinavia and the British Isles etc., in Europe, when we learn about this at school, perhaps this varies from country to country, I can't really know this for sure. You say that companies are using the electoral register, to find out, if people can get loans. But then I think, that the UK Government, must be selling this register. I think this practice, can be not in line with the EEA, since it discriminates EFTA-citizens, from Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein, if the UK Government, sells this register, to companies, that give loans, etc. This is just how I think it is. But like I wrote, I have had some problems with the communication etc., with the Norwegian embassy, in London, so I have to think more about, how to deal with this. I've sent an e-mail, to the Norwegian ministry of trade, since I'm in contact with them, about some other cases, to do with the EEA, and I'm sending a complaint, on the Merseyside Police, the Home Office, etc., to the EU-commission, for breaches, I think it's called, on the EEA-agreement, so perhaps I add about the electoral register as well, while I'm at it, writing complaints to the EU-commission. We'll see. Thanks again for taking the time to send an answer about this! Yours sincerely, Erik Ribsskog On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 12:13 PM, Barker, Stephen <Stephen.Barker@liverpool.gov.uk> wrote: Hello I apologise if this has caused you any confusion, but as you state, it is clear on the registration form and on the accompanying leaflet that it is European Union citizens who are eligible to register. With regard to getting a loan etc, we use the electoral register for one purpose only and that is to ensure that anyone who is eligible to vote has the right to do so. It is credit companies that use it for credit checks and there is nothing that we can do to stop them using it for this purpose. I trust this answers your query, however if I can be of any further assistance then please do not hesitate to contact me. Regards Stephen Barker Asst. Elections Manager Electoral Services Unit Tel: 0151 225 3519 Fax: 0151-225-2365 E-mail: stephen.barker@liverpool.gov.uk Web: http://www.liverpool.gov.uk From: Erik Ribsskog [mailto:eribsskog@gmail.com] Sent: 12 August 2009 00:01 To: Electoral Services Subject: Electoral register Hi, today, I got the form, to register, on the electoral register, for the third time, I think it is. On the front-page, of the form, it says 'European [..] citizen'. But then, it means EU-citizen, as I've been explained earlier. But, I'm from Norway, and Norway are in Europe, on the map, at least the last time I checked. Why do you use the term 'European citizen', when you don't mean eg. Norway or Switzerland, who are also in Europe. Iceland and Lichtenstein, are also in Europe, the are European countries, at least we learned this at school in Norway, that Europe was one of the 'verdensdeler', 'world-parts' or continents. So why do you say European citizen instead of EU-citizen, because I think that can be a bit disrespectful, towards the EFTA-countries, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein, who aren't in the EU. Another thing I was wondering about, is that if people apply for a loan, i the UK, they have to be in the electoral register, as far as I understand. But, Norwegians aren't allowed to be in the electoral register, since we aren't in the EU. But, there is an agreement between the EFTA countries (including Norway), and the UK, called the EEA-agreement, that says that Norwegians should have the same rights, as EU-citizens, in the EU. But I don't think Norwegians get the same rights, to have a loan, since we can't be in the electoral register. I think, to get a loan, is part of what the EEA-agreement, is meant to cover, the four freedoms and all that, free movement of people, but then the Norwegians should be allowed to get a loan. I understand that Norwegians aren't allowed to vote, since Norway aren't in the EU. But, I think, that according to the EEA, that Norwegians should be allowed to get a loan, but this electoral register, it means, that we can't get a loan, since we aren't allowed to be in the electoral register. So this I don't think is in line with the EEA-agreement. Normally, I would have sent this, to the Norwegian embassy, but they, don't answer my corresponence, even if an ombudsman, in Norway, Sivilombusmannen, has told them to do so, but the embassy refuse, for more than a year now, to answer my correspondence, even if can't understand why they do this. I even went with the train, to London, with some files, (to do with an employment-case, involving many Nordic citizens), to deliver them in person, instead of sending them in the post, and still the treat me like this. I don't think this is easy to understand. But anyway. Sorry that I wrote a lot about the EEA-agreement etc., but I hope you have the oppertunity, to explain why it says 'European citizen', and not 'EU-citizen', on this form, an on the John Lennon airport sometimes as well, I remember, from when I was there, in 2005. Just out of curiosity, if you have the time, that is. Thank you very much for your help in advance! Yours sincerely, Erik Ribsskog ______________________________________________________________________ This email has been automatically scanned for viruses and malicious content by MessageLabs for your protection ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ DISCLAIMER: The information in this e-mail is confidential and may be read, copied or used only by the intended recipient(s). If you have received it in error please contact the sender immediately by returning the e-mail or by telephoning a number contained in the body of the e-mail then and please delete the e-mail without disclosing its contents elsewhere. No responsibility is accepted for loss or damage arising from viruses or changes made to this message after it was sent. The views contained in this email are those of the author and not necessarily those of the author’s employer or service provider. 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