EU expats condemn Theresa May’s ‘pathetic’ offer on Brexit rights

EU expats condemn Theresa May’s ‘pathetic’ offer on Brexit rights

Jun 25, 2017 | Articles, News

Groups representing EU citizens in UK and Britons abroad unimpressed by prime minister’s Brussels proposal…

Representatives of EU citizens in Britain have branded Theresa May’s offer to guarantee their rights to remain in the country after Brexit pathetic and anything but “fair and serious”.

A group representing Britons in Europe as well as EU citizens in the UK will meet officials in the Department for Exiting the European Union on Friday morning to tell them of their anger with the prime minister’s “spin” on the issue when she spoke at a dinner in Brussels.

May made what she described as a “fair and generous” offer after a meal at the European council summit on Thursday.

But it was met with fury by EU citizens who say it increases rather than eases anxiety, particularly because, they claim, it is cast in the “language of immigration law” rather than existing EU law.

Read full story here.

British expats in a post-#Brexit EU: What now?

British expats in a post-#Brexit EU: What now?

Jun 21, 2017 | Articles, News

The UK has voted to leave the EU and Brexit talks have begun. But what about the fate of British expats in Europe. What will happen to them? What are the current plans for them, asks Martin Banks?

Those among the estimated 1.8 million expat Britons who have lived on mainland Europe for 15 years or more were denied a vote in the UK general election on 8 June.

But, if Britons living in the EU were angry about not voting in the election (or the EU referendum last year that will take the UK out of the EU), can you imagine how they feel about possibly being denied their democratic rights once again?

That is precisely what many of the British expats in Belgium and throughout Europe fear when the UK finally leaves.

One of the most important yet most difficult aspects of Brexit will be sorting out what happens to UK citizens in other EU states (as well as EU citizens from other member states currently in the UK).

We’ve known for a while that citizens’ status is going to be one of the first topics tackled in the upcoming negotiations. But what is not known yet is just how complex such a process will be.

Around three million EU citizens, many of them Poles, currently live in the UK. They have to go through a lengthy 85-page application process in order to become a permanent British citizen, and the number doing so has reportedly soared since Britain voted to leave in June last year.

More of the article here…

Brexit talks begin as expats in Spain urge No.10 to protect existing rights

Brexit talks begin as expats in Spain urge No.10 to protect existing rights

Jun 21, 2017 | Articles

THE rights of 1.2 million Brits living in the EU and three million EU citizens in the UK must be ‘the highest priority’ in Brexit negotiations, campaigners have said.

British In Europe urged Brexit Secretary David Davis to protect expats currently living ‘in limbo’ by securing a deal on existing rights.

Landmark talks on Britain leaving the EU began on Monday, with the rights of British and EU citizens abroad high on the list of priorities.

EU negotiators have told British In Europe, a coalition which includes campaign groups in Spain, that current citizens’ rights should remain unchanged.

Read more…

 

‘A less hard Brexit’: Brits in Spain react to UK election result

‘A less hard Brexit’: Brits in Spain react to UK election result

Jun 11, 2017 | Articles

Spain’s prime minister welcomed Theresa May’s victory, while left-wing politicians congratulated Jeremy Corbyn on his astounding result. Meanwhile British residents in Spain hoped the result would signal a softer stance on Brexit.

Spanish Prime Minister congratulated May on “her electoral victory” and said “we will continue to work for a fruitful relationship in the interest of the people”.

Spain has its own experience of a hung parliament and the difficulties that brings in forming a government.

Mariano Rajoy finally secured a minority government in September 2016 after ten long months of political deadlock and two general elections failed to give him majority rule.

The British election results competed with news of Spain’s own looming troubles, as Catalonia’s president announced plans to hold a referendum on independence for the region in October.

Those on the left in Spain, including Pedro Sanchez, the leader of Spain’s Socialists (PSOE)  and Pablo Iglesias were quick to congratulate Britain’s Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who defied critics and vicious personal attacks in the press to gain seats.

Read more here…

 

Británicos sin voto: la ‘diáspora’ que se quedará fuera de las elecciones del ‘brexit’

Británicos sin voto: la ‘diáspora’ que se quedará fuera de las elecciones del ‘brexit’

Jun 7, 2017 | Articles

Los expatriados que llevan más de 15 años en el extranjero no pueden votar. ¿Miles, cientos de miles, tal vez más…? La cifra de afectados por la restricción es una incógnita.

Rebecca Wey es británica, el brexit amenaza con truncar su vida y, sin embargo, no tiene derecho a participar en las elecciones que Reino Unido celebra el jueves para elegir a los encargados de guiarlo hacia lo desconocido. Del mismo modo, el año pasado observó cómo sus compatriotas se pronunciaban a favor de salir de la UE sin poder alzar la voz. La razón: lleva más de 15 años en España, es decir, fuera de Reino Unido, y las normas electorales le impiden votar.

See full story here

 

 

NHS could face £1bn Brexit bill for treating expats, health think tank warns

NHS could face £1bn Brexit bill for treating expats, health think tank warns

May 31, 2017 | Articles

The price of NHS treatment for tens of thousands of British pensioners returning to the UK from Spain, France and other EU countries after Brexit will hit a billion pounds, experts have warned.

Shortages of NHS and social care staff and extra charges for new drugs are likely to hike costs for the health service even higher when Britain leaves the EU, according to a new report from health think tank the Nuffield Trust.

The Department of Health currently spends around £500m on a scheme that allows some 190,000 pensioners to access free or reduced-cost medical treatment in EU countries.

However, it is unlikely this reciprocal arrangement will be kept after Brexit, meaning the NHS will face a bill of almost £1bn in total – double the current outlay. There will also be severe pressure on hospital beds, as the health service struggles to cope with the extra patients, and a shortage of staff, said researcher Mark Dayan.

Mr Dayan told The Independent the situation for the NHS after Brexit will be “difficult”, adding that the total cost faced by the health service could be even higher if Brexit causes an economic slowdown that impacts on public finances.

A bigger problem than the costs is “the need for additional staff and hospital beds”, he said. “You can’t just turn on a tap and produce these things. They’re limited resources and are already overstretched in the NHS.”

“The impact of staffing shortages, which we already have and could worsen after Brexit if handled badly, are that some places won’t have enough staff to operate safely, or agency staff will have to be brought in at high rate, which will make the NHS’s financial position even worse.”

Read full story…