I’m a bit tired of this “UK citizens overseas sacrificed in Brexit negotiations” stories.
So I am going to try - as fairly as possible - to lay out what happened in last week’s deal, and what it means.
1/10
So I am going to try - as fairly as possible - to lay out what happened in last week’s deal, and what it means.
1/10
The type of story that annoys me is ones like this theguardian.com/politics/2017/… by @lisaocarroll in The Guardian.
2/10
2/10
A quote from The Guardian piece:
“One of the biggest fears of Britons in Europe is that they will remain “landlocked” in the country in which they now live, unable to move across borders to work for meetings, or for business contracts.”
This is not actually quite true.
3/10
“One of the biggest fears of Britons in Europe is that they will remain “landlocked” in the country in which they now live, unable to move across borders to work for meetings, or for business contracts.”
This is not actually quite true.
3/10
This stems from a misunderstanding of what Freedom of Movement is, and what open borders within the EU are.
Freedom of Movement is the right to go and live (i.e. residence) and work in another EU Member State. According to the deal that ends for Brits.
4/10
Freedom of Movement is the right to go and live (i.e. residence) and work in another EU Member State. According to the deal that ends for Brits.
4/10
What does not end are open borders within the EU.
So let’s take an example.
I live in Germany and am self employed. I will continue to be able to travel to 🇫🇷, 🇮🇹 or 🇧🇪 without restriction, AND to do contracts in those places.
5/10
So let’s take an example.
I live in Germany and am self employed. I will continue to be able to travel to 🇫🇷, 🇮🇹 or 🇧🇪 without restriction, AND to do contracts in those places.
5/10
BUT I will not be able to move to live permanently or take a regular work contract in 🇫🇷, 🇮🇹 or 🇧🇪 without restriction.
The way the text agreed is currently drafted means my residence would be tied to one Member State - Germany in my case.
6/10
The way the text agreed is currently drafted means my residence would be tied to one Member State - Germany in my case.
6/10
This is annoying, *but* in comparison to Brits who will have no right to residence anywhere post-Brexit, it is at least something.
Plus anyone with a tie to one Member State - most retired people for example - this presents no problem.
7/10
Plus anyone with a tie to one Member State - most retired people for example - this presents no problem.
7/10
There is hope that this isn’t even the end of the story - the technical document accompanying the main text makes it clear the Freedom of Movement for Brits within the EU still remains to be worked on - final part of the table here: ec.europa.eu/commission/sit…
8/10
8/10
The EP’s #Brexit coordinator Verhofstadt has also said he is in favour of full free movement for Brits - see this tweet:
And this FB statement: facebook.com/GuyVerhofstadt…
A lot more detail on the deal from @stevepeers here:
eulawanalysis.blogspot.be/2017/12/the-be…
9/10
And this FB statement: facebook.com/GuyVerhofstadt…
A lot more detail on the deal from @stevepeers here:
eulawanalysis.blogspot.be/2017/12/the-be…
9/10
Conclusion: there is a way to solve this yet, and the deal as it stands is far from ideal.
But howls of anguish come across badly.
But Brexit is nasty. It shreds rights. But that needs to be seen as a whole, not just for Brits in the rest of the EU.
10/10
But howls of anguish come across badly.
But Brexit is nasty. It shreds rights. But that needs to be seen as a whole, not just for Brits in the rest of the EU.
10/10
P.S. As @Wok_Chi_Steve points out to me, there is the danger the whole deal unravels due to David Davis’s comments.
This thread is based on the idea that it does *not* unravel.
This thread is based on the idea that it does *not* unravel.
