Residence Directive

29.6.2017

Question for written answer E-004338-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Morten Løkkegaard (ALDE)

Regarding the purpose of the Residence Directive and of freedom of movement, along with the question of whether poor citizens from one Member State can go to another Member State to beg and to camp in public places, without it being possible for the host country to turn them away:

Can a person who bases his or her income on begging be called a worker, and thus claim to be covered under the free movement of labour under the EU Treaties?

Can a Member State require EU citizens to document a residence address, including for stays of less than 30 days, when they seek to invoke the right to legal stay in the host country?

Will the Commission introduce initiatives that can improve clarity concerning the definition and interpretation of the Residence Directive, which currently places travelling beggars on an equal footing with workers? Will it take initiatives to ensure that the Residence Directive cannot be used as a grounds for migratory beggars and small-scale criminal groups living in the streets to stay legitimately in a Member State?