WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1382/97 by Mark WATTS to the Commission. Mortgage and life insurance rights for non- British nationals in Britain
10. 2. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 45/25 The Commission may, after receiving the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee, recognize other analysis methods providing an equivalent level of consumer health protection. The Community Reference Laboratory for marine biotoxins is working in close cooperation with the national reference laboratories and the Commission to identify and validate new analysis techniques not requiring animal tests. The Commission does not intend to prohibit the analysis techniques laid down in Directive 91/492/EEC until scientific evidence shows that an equivalent level of consumer health protection can be guaranteed by alternative techniques. (1) OJ L 268, 24. 9. 1991. (98/C 45/30) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1382/97 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission (22 April 1997) Subject: Mortgage and life insurance rights for non-British nationals in Britain In families in Britain where the breadwinner is a national of another Member State and currently works in that state, what rights does that family have to secure a mortgage and obtain life insurance cover in Britain? Is the Commission aware of any problems which are experienced and what action is taken to ensure that the single market operates in the field of mortgages and life insurance? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (23 June 1997) The Commission is not aware of any national provisions precluding the activities referred to in the question. It should be pointed out that, under the Community Directives which give practical shape to the freedom of establishment and the freedom to provide services in the financial services sector, anyone may request a mortgage loan and/or life assurance cover from any financial firm (credit institution or life assurance company) that has been duly authorized in the Community or in the European Economic Area, including one established in a Member State other than that in which he or she is resident. Thus anyone in the same position as the family referred to in the question is free to approach any firm that has been authorized to grant mortgage loans and/or life assurance cover. But it should be borne in mind that the acceptance or refusal of such a request is a matter for the firm’s own commercial judgment. Before reaching a decision, the firm will examine the different components of the transaction and may be influenced by the location of the property or the fact that the person in question works and earns the bulk of his/her income in a Member State other than that in which he/she or the firm approached is established. The decision whether or not to conclude such a contract is a matter of commercial judgment over which the Commission has no influence