If Britain leaves the European Union, what will happen to expat Brits living in Spain? Would it mean that we will have to take out work permits? Would it mean that we will not be able to vote in local elections? The list is endless. Given there are around two million Britons living abroad within the EU and 2.5 million EU citizens living in Britain, arrangements will have to be made. One of the deals which is being actively discussed would allow EU migrants who had acquired rights under EU law, such as free movement, to retain those rights for a transitional period. But all this is speculation of course. Just as a matter of interest, I would say that the British government should really spell out how it believes a British exit would affect British people living abroad in the European Union. After all, we are talking about two million British citizens. No one has a crystal ball but I would say that before urging expats living in Spain to vote in the referendum the British government should give some answers. Also, the fact that voting rights are reserved for those who have lived outside Britain for less than 15 years is stupid to say the least. Every British citizen of voting age should be allowed to have their say on European Union membership. It is a massive decision which could change the very face of Britain and Europe. It is not just a question of trade, it is a question of how Britain wants to continue. The government needs to provide answers and quick.
European Union
16/02/2016 00:00
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As I said, I wish I can be proved wrong - however the groundswell of jingoistic and in my opinion totally misplaced optimism that the UK can somehow survive or even prosper outside the EU will hold sway and I can see no result other than a resounding "No" to the EU. Newspapers such as the Mail and Sun are not interested in balanced argument, they have an agenda to push. I see disaster, and it does not worry me if I am a lone voice, I've done some logical thinking and that's where it has taken me. People reading this who have lives and/or property in Spain must believe that the Spanish government will carry on treating them well. If we opt out, history teaches otherwise: UK citizens will have no legal protection. In the end, it is the law that counts. The law is what protects you, but it also is the law that can do the opposite when the game changes. Leaving the EU will change the rules of the game.
Steve, with respect, I think the rest of Europe will be in or continue to be in an economic mire, not the UK. Or do you think Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece and quite a few other EU nations are an example of fiscal rectitude ?. And why, may I ask, will cheap flights dissapear when the two main "cheap" airlines are based in the UK and it took BA a lot of money and hard work to make IBERIA profitable again.
Hard-won legal battles such as the right for UK property owners in Spain to have their inheritance tax equalised with Spanish nationals will be dead in an instant if we leave the EU. Trade tariff benefits will be removed, making UK exports too expensive, (and a lot of industry will relocate elsewhere) the E111 health benefit will cease to exist, the accepted free movement across EU borders will almost certainly be stopped etc. etc., cheap flights will disappear, and we will become pariahs. The EU will owe us nothing and will stop at nothing to rub our noses in the economic mire...at which point all the jingoistic British public who think we can go back to the days of the British Empire will be screaming for help: there will be no moral or economic reason why they should get any at all. Looking at the balance of current opinion polls in the UK this is a very likely outcome. This is an occasion where I truly hope I am wrong in my assessment, because believe you me, our exit is likely.
You know full well that reciprocal agreements covering travel,health,work et al will be put in place as it is in everyone's interest,you are simply scaremongering,and you know it. Funny that you never mentioned the fact that the EU President,Martin Schulz made it very clear that no matter what agreements Cameron might believe he has made,such agreements CAN BE RESCINDED and that another jumped-up German threatened us with crippling trade tariffs if we left,twice we have fought jumped-up Germans that threatened us,we don't like being threatened and few people in the UK now believe a word Cameron says.
Jason, Do you really think Her Majesty´s Government could care two hoots about the welfare or future of it´s ex-pat subjects, whether retired or not ?. During the past several years they have done their best to find ways of not being obliged to pay certain benefits that a lot of them / us qualify for. And as far as I am concerned, they can keep their NHS. Don´t worry, with the help ( or not ) of the Spanish authorities, we will find a solution,