I've read the following about the directive....
"It is recalled in this context, that the provisions of the Directive are unconditional and sufficiently clear and may relied upon by an individual against the State where that State has failed to implement the directive in national law by the period prescribed or where it has failed to implement the directive correctly. In such case, all organs of the administration including decentralized authorities such as municipalities are obliged to apply those provisions."
Does this mean I can have it out with an IO even if France or others haven't actually put this into law??
Not sure this would be resolved in 15 minutes though somehow!
Still remains unclear what is a family member, although after more than two years living together we are effectively married in common law in the UK at least.
Is there some sort of official statement we could get from the UK as proof of this to use in the EU, or is it best still to take this evidence to apply for a French visa, and then still have to worry about the Schengen limit for the remainder of the countries.
The plot thickens....