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Exiting EU Committee to hear rights retention arguments from expat group
| Published: | 11 Jan at 6 PM |
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January 18 will see the formal recognition of a group fighting for Brit expats’ rights after Brexit when their evidence is given to the Exiting EU Committee.
The committee, chaired by MP Hilary Benn, will hear that UK expats in Spain are living in fear of Brexit’s effects on their lives. According to the Olive Press, the Madrid-based Guardian journalist Giles Tremlett is expected to speak for the group, emphasising his belief that both EU citizens in the UK and UK expats across the EU should be allowed to retain their rights post-Brexit.
Tremlett told the Spanish media it’s essential that politicians involved in Brexit should consider its possible ramifications for the one million UK expats living across Europe and the three million in the UK. One important reason for their fear, he said, is the necessity to put their entire lives on hold for what looks to be an extended period of time whilst the EU and UK governments wrangle over the details of Britain’s EU divorce.
The journalist’s stance is that expats already in place overseas as well as EU citizens living and working in the UK should not be treated as if they are new arrivals with no rights, nor should their lives be used as bargaining chips. He believes the one million and the three million should be working together to protect their rights, adding that the group hopes to form a pan-European coalition to fight against losing the right to remain and work in EU member states as well as in the UK.
Last year, Tremlett and fellow journalist William Chislett posted a petition asking the Spanish government to allow dual citizenship for expats who’ve lived in the country for more than 15 years. During 2017, the petition will be presented to all 17 of Spain's regional parliaments for consideration. According to Tremlett, positive feedback has been received from a number of Spanish politicians.
The committee, chaired by MP Hilary Benn, will hear that UK expats in Spain are living in fear of Brexit’s effects on their lives. According to the Olive Press, the Madrid-based Guardian journalist Giles Tremlett is expected to speak for the group, emphasising his belief that both EU citizens in the UK and UK expats across the EU should be allowed to retain their rights post-Brexit.
Tremlett told the Spanish media it’s essential that politicians involved in Brexit should consider its possible ramifications for the one million UK expats living across Europe and the three million in the UK. One important reason for their fear, he said, is the necessity to put their entire lives on hold for what looks to be an extended period of time whilst the EU and UK governments wrangle over the details of Britain’s EU divorce.
The journalist’s stance is that expats already in place overseas as well as EU citizens living and working in the UK should not be treated as if they are new arrivals with no rights, nor should their lives be used as bargaining chips. He believes the one million and the three million should be working together to protect their rights, adding that the group hopes to form a pan-European coalition to fight against losing the right to remain and work in EU member states as well as in the UK.
Last year, Tremlett and fellow journalist William Chislett posted a petition asking the Spanish government to allow dual citizenship for expats who’ve lived in the country for more than 15 years. During 2017, the petition will be presented to all 17 of Spain's regional parliaments for consideration. According to Tremlett, positive feedback has been received from a number of Spanish politicians.
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