Spain experiences the third heatwave of the summer

A waiter carries bottles of cold drinks outside a bar, during a heatwave in Ronda. | Jon Nazca

Jason MoorePalma02/08/2024 09:25
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Is there light at the end of the tunnel? It has been reported that the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has asked British PM Sir Keir Starmer to consider “free movement” between the two countries for people under the age of 30. This would mean that young people could once again come and work in Spain or Britain with minimal paperwork. It would also have an impact on students. The fact that it is Spain which is in the driving seat shows how much an accord of this type means to the Spanish. Starmer has said that he would consider the plan but he does face opposition from the Brexit Brigade.

However, at least the two governments are talking about closer ties post-Brexit and surely the next move would be to abolish the 90-day-nonsense ruling which means that British citizens can only spend a total of 180 days in Spain in two batches of 90 days? For the Spanish tourist industry if this proposal actually leads to an accord it would mean that young Britons could work again in the Spanish tourist industry.

As a result of all the post-Brexit paperwork many Spanish companies prefer to recruit Irish or English-speaking European Union citizens to work in the summer. This could all change. The Brexit agreement failed to take into account the millions of British citizens who live abroad and the thousands who own holiday homes. A small step in the right direction has been taken; let us hope it becomes a stride.