———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Erik Ribsskog <eribsskog@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Subject: Electoral register
To: elections@liverpool.gov.uk
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
