Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many UK nationals currently work for the European External Action Service (EEAS); how many of these staff are on secondment from the UK civil service; whether they have undertaken an assessment of how many of those (1) on secondment, and (2) directly employed by the EEAS plan to continue to work there after the UK leaves the EU; and if so, what were their findings.

Information provided by the EEAS shows that as of 14 November 2018 there were a total of 115 UK nationals working for the EEAS. Of these, 33 were seconded from the UK civil service.

The EEAS has informed staff of UK nationality that all HMG officials seconded to the EEAS will be required to end their role by 29 March 2019. Permanent Officials employed by the EEAS with UK nationality will be able to continue their employment in Headquarters in Brussels, but they will no longer be able to serve in EU Delegations overseas.

As set out in the Government’s White Paper on the future relationship between the UK and the EU, we hope to agree a programme for the reciprocal exchange of expertise and skills as part of the future UK-EU partnership. Our priority is agreeing mutually beneficial arrangements for the longer term, in line with our overall future partnership with the EU.