The Education (Student Loans) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997

5.  For the purposes of these Regulations an area which—

(a)was previously not part of the area comprised by the member States of the European Community or by the European Economic Area, but

(b)at any time before or after these Regulations come into operation has become part of one or other or both of these areas

shall be considered to have always been part of the European Economic Area.