National legislation in the countries I have looked at says you lose Permanent Residence status after two years absence from the country. This is consistent with Directive 2004/58/EC (The Citizens Directive)
But it is very different from Directive 2003/109/ECDIRECTIVE 2004/58/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 29 April 2004
Article 16
4. Once acquired, the right of permanent residence shall be lost only through absence from the host Member State for a period exceeding two consecutive years.
Does anyone understand what has happened in European Law?COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2003/109/EC
of 25 November 2003
concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents
Article 9
Withdrawal or loss of status
1. Long-term residents shall no longer be entitled to maintain long-term resident status in the following cases:
(a) [[ fraudulent acquisition ]
(b) [ expulsion;]
(c) in the event of absence from the territory of the Community for a period of 12 consecutive months.
2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1(c), Member States may provide that absences exceeding 12 consecutive months or for specific or exceptional reasons shall not entail withdrawal or loss of status.
3. [threat to public]
4. The long-term resident who has resided in another Member State in accordance with Chapter III shall no longer be entitled to maintain his/her long-term resident status acquired in the first Member State when such a status is granted in another Member State pursuant to Article 23. In any case after six years of absence from the territory of the Member State that granted long-term resident status the person concerned shall no longer be entitled to maintain his/her long term resident status in the said Member State.
By way of derogation from the second subparagraph the Member State concerned may provide that for specific reasons the long-term resident shall maintain his/her status in the said Member State in case of absences for a period exceeding six years.
5. With regard to the cases referred to in paragraph 1(c) and in paragraph 4, Member States who have granted the status shall provide for a facilitated procedure for the re-acquisition of long-term resident status.