European Parliament
President.
Question No 48 by Marc Tarabella 
Subject: Right of residence for European Union citizens
I welcome the contribution Directive 2004/38/EC
(1)
makes with regard to better integration of European citizens.
However, I regret the use of the expression 'droit de séjour permanent' in French, which is a contradiction in terms as the word 'séjour' implies temporariness.
Moreover, can the Commission guarantee that full equal treatment of EU citizens and nationals of a country includes the issuing of a real identity document and not simply a residence permit, as is the case in Belgium for example? The residence permit is not of the same value as the identity document and the name itself is scandalous and insulting to citizens who emigrated decades ago and have spent their working life and raised a family in their host country.
OJ L 158, 30.4.2004, p. 77.

