Launched last year in Tenerife ‘Hug a Briton’ was a campaign which was designed to encourage islanders to provide comfort and cheer, including the posting of photographs on social media, as a means of providing a welcome and showing friendliness toward British people following the BREXIT vote which disappointed so many.

At the time the authorities thought that the British decision to leave the EU might also have a negative effect on their intentions to holiday abroad, but figures released at the end of 2016 show that the consequence was anything but with the numbers travelling to Spain the most in over 10 years.

But rather than any connection with the BREXIT vote it would seem that the main effect why a record number are travelling to these shores is probably more to do with fears of terrorism in regular destinations such as Turkey and Egypt.

Even the tumbling £ can’t seem to halt the trend and produce that anticipated slowdown in bookings as, according to travel specialist GfK, with early bookings for 2017 holidays already up by 16% on this time last year, the upturn seems likely to continue.

For many years now, Brits have been the biggest group/nation travelling to these shores accounting for approximately 11% of Spain’s economic output. Indeed in many areas, especially around the Costa Blanca, Calida and del Sol, that figure is far greater with the local economies, airports, restaurants, hotels, completely reliant on that group.

And now, despite the fact that the pound has shed over 10% against the euro since the June referendum, the figures continue to rise even further as security worries in holiday destinations such as Tunisia, Turkey and Egypt lead them to seek sun closer to home.

So, like predictions of a swift Brexit-led slowdown in the British economy, their concerns appear to be misplaced as latest figures show that the number of Britons visiting Spain rose by over 12 per cent last year, to 17.8 million people, over six million more than the next biggest group by nationality – the French.

Only the most pessimistic would ever see that changing as would also seem to be the case with the imposition of travel restrictions between the two countries or any legislation that is likely to have a negative effect on those of us who already live and work here.

One positive example of this in the UK would appear to be the expansion by the Home Office of its online application form for EU citizens seeking permanent residence in the UK ahead of Brexit, a measure that has not gone unnoticed, and has also been welcomed, by bureaucrats in Brussels.

The post ‘HUG A BRITON’ appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

Although the current ‘party line’ in the UK appears to demand that the European Union be viewed with acute suspicion and blamed for everything that has got wrong in Europe and, in particular, the United Kingdom, there are still many of us that actually appreciate the EU and all that it has achieved over the years.

So, before any determined Brexiters reading this article choke on their cornflakes, I should add a rider that I am viewing its achievements through the eyes of an expat living in Spain and the Canary Islands. The UK has made its own decision and it is time to move on.

The EU’s anniversary summit and celebrations are due to take place on 25 March 2017, and although the British Prime Minister has been invited, at the time of writing it is anticipated that she will not attend on the basis that it is not regarded as appropriate for the UK to take part in an act of unity and forward planning when the country is about to leave. On this day, EU leaders will gather in Rome to look back over 60 years when just six countries embarked on a project aimed at uniting Europe.

The Treaty of Rome was signed on 25 March 1957 by the then leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. As well as a time for celebration, it will be a time for reflection, as well as looking forward to a challenging new decade that will see the UK leave the EU, as well as a new and unpredictable US President to deal with.

In Spain and the Canary Islands, the post Franco period could have been one of acute turmoil and political unrest, but the EU nurtured this troubled country into the successful and peaceful democracy that we see today. I am not saying that Spain could not have done this on its own, but it would have been much harder and a more painful process to achieve in so short a space of time.

Much of the island where I live, half of which was mostly a barren desert wilderness sixty years ago, has been transformed into an island holiday paradise where many holidaymakers come to escape to the sun. Major infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, and tunnels cut though mountain regions have been funded by the European Union enabling all of the island to be developed, which benefits residents and tourists alike. Again, without this level of funding, I doubt that this development would have happened.

As far as benefiting my own life, and for many others like me, the freedom to live and work in any of the member states has been one of the most significant benefits, accompanied by the freedom to purchase property, open a business and enjoy life in a country of my own choosing, rather than being trapped in the country of my birth. For me, this has been a blessing that will be denied to others through rigid immigration policies and other restrictions that have become the narrative of many in the UK.

Citizens’ confidence in the EU has been badly shaken in recent times due to the World Economic crisis, the clumsy handling of debt for countries, such as Greece, and the migrants’ crisis.

During this period of doom and gloom, it is easy to forget the EU’s many achievements, which include 57 per cent of all UK trade, clean rivers and beaches, structural support for areas of decline such as Wales, Cornwall and Lincolnshire, cleaner air, recycling, cheaper mobile phone charges, cheaper air travel, no paperwork or customs between member countries, access to European health services, EU funded research, labour protection, maternity rights, counter terrorism…I could go on for a few more pages, but you get the general idea? Above all, after centuries of war between European neighbours, the EU has finally brought peace.

I, for one, will be celebrating the European Union and the influence for good that it has upon Spain and the Canary Islands, as well as for the people of Europe on 25 March. As with so many things in our fast-moving lives, we often do not know the value of something until we have lost it.

If you enjoyed this article, take a look at Barrie’s websites: http://barriemahoney.com and http://thecanaryislander.com or read his latest book, ‘Footprints in the Sand’ (ISBN: 9780995602717). Available in paperback, as well as Kindle editions.

© Barrie Mahoney

The post WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE? appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

Whilst the UK Government is still to implement Article 50 and start any meaningful negotiations with the EU regarding its departure, hundreds of thousands of us continue to live in limbo and will carry on doing so until such time as decisions are made regarding residency, the continuing reimbursement of our healthcare by the NHS and the freezing of our UK pensions.

But just last week SPAIN is said to have boosted Theresa May’s bid to win a fair Brexit deal for British expats living in the EU, by voicing its support for a mutual agreement.

The country’s EU Secretary Jorge Toledo, who will lead Madrid’s negotiations over Brexit, told The Times: ‘We are broadly in favour of retaining a reciprocal agreement on questions like healthcare and freedom of movement.’

Indeed the recently elected Secretary of State for the European Union went a stage further in stating that any deal MUST allow British expatriates to remain on the Costas with all of their benefits intact, including access to free healthcare.

Back in UK, Senior Government figures have told business leaders that only ‘a few’ of the 27 EU member states are left to agree the outline of a reciprocal rights agreement for Britons in the EU, and EU nationals living in this country for when Britain leaves the EU so we would now hope that it is only a matter of time before British expats are formally granted the right to carry on living both in Spain and elsewhere on the Continent.

It was also refreshing to have sight of a recent letter from The Right Honourable David Jones MP, the Minister of State for Exiting the European Union, to Sir Roger Gale MP, in which he stated that the UK Government is ready to reach an agreement NOW on the status of UK Nationals in the EU, and of EU Citizens in the UK, if other countries agree.

He also said that such a deal is the right thing to do and is in the interests of everyone involved.

Mrs May also told business leaders at the CBI: ‘I want an early agreement on the status of UK nationals in Europe and EU nationals here, so that you and they can plan with certainty.’

Nevertheless, until such time as the decisions are made and formalised we continue to live on the edge. But the correspondence between the two Members of Parliament, as well as the statements from Toledo and May were extremely encouraging for us all

Currently there are said to be 1.2 million Brits residing in the EU (including 309,000 in Spain) while 3.25 million EU citizens live and work in the UK. Of the Brits living in Spain 292,000 are registered with local councils while just over 100,000 are over 65 years of age.

Madrid has further stated that it would also support a deal that would maintain free movement between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

The post SPAIN’S EU SECRETARY OF STATE CALLS FOR RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT ON HEALTHCARE appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

“One of our top priorities for the negotiations is our citizens, and there will be no immediate changes to expat rights here in Spain in the interim” says British Ambassador to Spain Simon Manley

“Today the Prime Minister wrote to the European Council to trigger Article 50 and begin the process for the UK to leave the EU.  From the meetings that our teams across Spain have had in recent months, we know that many British residents in Spain have questions about the future, ranging from residency rights to healthcare and pensions.

One of our top priorities for the negotiations is our citizens.  As the Prime Minister said in her letter to European Council President, we should always put our citizens first, and we want an early agreement about their rights. We are ready to reach such an agreement right now if other countries agree. We want to give citizens as much certainty as possible, as early as possible.

In the interim, there will be no immediate changes to expat rights here in Spain. Until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights British Nationals enjoy in Spain remain in force.

You can continue to live and work in Spain.  You can continue to access Spanish healthcare, access your UK pension and your children can continue to attend Spanish schools. 

We encourage all British citizens residing in Spain to register on their local padron, so that you can fully exercise your rights to access local services in Spain and so that we have the most complete possible picture of all the British citizens are living here.  If you encounter any problems exercising your rights, get in touch with your nearest British consulate. Our teams across Spain and I will continue to keep you updated on the negotiations.  Please follow GOV.UK for the most up to date and accurate information.”

The post STATEMENT FROM BRITISH AMBASSADOR ON TRIGGERING OF ARTICLE 50 appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

The Spanish Government  has set up a “one-stop shop”, based at the Spanish Embassy in London to deal with enquiries from Spanish citizens in relation to the consequences that the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union may have on their personal situation and that of their family members.

​Among the different issues to be addressed by the shop, the following are worthy of mention: permanent residence, healthcare assistance, private medical cover, pensions and other social benefits, issues related to education such as the modification of university fees and the recognition of qualifications, the future of scientific programmes and grants, and fiscal and tax consequences for private individuals.

This one-stop shop will be the sole point of contact for all enquiries made on the consequences of Brexit and all of the embassy services will collaborate to comply with the functions mentioned above.

It is important to point out that the one-stop shop will not offer consular assistance, which will continue to be provided by the Consuls-General located in London and Edinburgh, which will remain in permanent contact in order to provide a response to those concerns which, while motivated by Brexit, may fall within the powers of the consular offices.

Citizens can address their enquiries to the one-stop shop by using either of the following electronic mail addresses: emb.londres.brexit@maec.es or brexitventanillaresidentes@maec.es

The post SPAIN GOVERNMENT SETS UP “ONE-STOP SHOP” FOR BREXIT ENQUIRIES appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

Prime Minister Rajoy said that the government will defend Spanish interests in the process that has begun, now that the United Kingdom has officially announced its decision to leave the EU. He also advocated continued progress by the other 27 Member States on the European integration process.

​Mr Rajoy met in Valletta with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Malta and rotating president of the Council of the European Union, Joseph Muscat, to discuss the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU, among other issues.

At the joint press conference given by the two leaders following their meeting, Mariano Rajoy referred to the official announcement by the British Government of its intention to withdraw from the European Union under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. “I respect the decision but am very sorry it has taken place. I don’t think it is good for the United Kingdom in particular, but then nor do I think it is good for the EU as a whole”, he said.

He explained that the negotiation process that began last on Wednesday must conclude within two years; in other words, by 29 March 2019. On the following day, the treaties of the EU will no longer apply to the United Kingdom unless all Member States unanimously decide to extend the negotiations.

Mariano Rajoy stressed that “the Government of Spain and all other European institutions are ready for these negotiations”. In this regard, he recalled that an inter-ministerial commission was set up which has been working for some time and which met on Wednesday morning to study the document presented by the United Kingdom.

Furthermore, he issued a message of “calm, confidence and serenity to all Spanish citizens living in the United Kingdom, as well as the British citizens living in Spain”, as well as to those Spanish companies investing or trading in the UK and those British companies doing likewise in Spain.

The Prime Minister said that his greatest priority during the negotiations will be “to minimise the uncertainty created by the United Kingdom’s decision for our citizens, companies and Member States”.

Mariano Rajoy reiterated that the Government of Spain will defend Spanish interests in these negotiations. “We want a balanced agreement but we also want – and we said this in Rome – the 27 Member States to continue making progress in the European integration process that has, without question, been one of the most important political operations undertaken on our continent in centuries”.

Furthermore, he said that Spain will work “closely” with The European Union’s lead Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier. “We will maintain unity among the 27 during the negotiations”, he said.

The President of the Government also said that he wishes to “maintain the closest, most beneficial and fruitful relations possible between Spain and the United Kingdom in the best interests of all citizens”.

The post MINIMISING THE UNCERTAINTY OF BREXIT appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

During the regular government control session in the Lower House of Parliament, the President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, stressed that the European Union will negotiate the withdrawal by the United Kingdom as a block. “There will be no individual negotiations”, he said. As regards Catalonia, Mariano Rajoy stated that the Government of Spain has tried to tackle “the most important issues for the people”, something it will continue to do “in the future”.

The President of the Government replied to a question from the Socialist Party representative, Antonio Hernando, about the Brexit process by stating that “the European Union will negotiate” the withdrawal by the United Kingdom “as a block”, meaning “there will be no individual negotiations”.

The President of the Government recalled that the basic goal is to avoid “people being harmed”. He went on to explain that “the terms of the withdrawal are negotiated first, then we will start to talk about the future relationship”.  In his opinion, “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”.

As he recalled, the “guidelines” drawn up by the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, propose “a broad and far-reaching free trade agreement” as well as agreements in terms of security, defence, the fight against terrorism and organised crime.

The letter from the United Kingdom

The PNV [Basque Nationalist Party] representative, Aitor Esteban, asked about the content of the letter that the United Kingdom sent to the EU expressing its decision to withdraw. In this regard, the President of the Government replied that “the general tone seeks to be constructive” as it states both “a need for the process to be fair and ordered” and “a desire to maintain positive relations in the future on economic and security issues”.

Nonetheless, Mariano Rajoy also said that “the very fact of withdrawing from the European Union” and “the intention expressed in the letter to negotiate the withdrawal and the future relationship in tandem” do not seem “so positive” to him.

As regards “the fight against crime and terrorism”, Mariano Rajoy acknowledged that “this could be weakened if certain requirements are not met”.

In terms of the role played by the Ertzaintza [Basque Police Force], he recalled that “Spain’s representation at various international bodies is a State responsibility”, as stated in the Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country and the Spanish Constitution.

At any event, the President of the Government explained that access to “international information of police interest and the actions by the Ertzaintza with police forces in other countries are taking place as normal”.

Catalonia

In response to a question from Gabriel Rufián, a Member of Parliament for ERC [Republican Left of Catalonia], Mariano Rajoy stressed that the Government of Spain intends to meet the needs of Catalonia. “We have tried to tackle the most important issues for the people and we will continue to do so in the future”, he said.

Of those issues, “the first main objective was job creation”, explained the President of the Government. In this regard, he recalled that the latest unemployment figures published were “highly positive for Spain as a whole, as well as for Catalonia”. In other words, “the jobs lost during the economic crisis are gradually being recovered”.

The President of the Government added that “fundamental public services” (healthcare, education and social services) were also maintained in spite of the “extremely difficult situation that the Regional Government of Catalonia found itself in”. Mariano Rajoy pointed out that the Government of Spain implemented “liquidity instruments” to this end, such as the FLA [Regional Liquidity Fund] and the Supplier Payment Fund.

Mariano Rajoy also referred to the public investments made in Catalonia. He said that these were maintained during the “tough times” and will start to increase from now on, given that “revenue has increased because of improvements in economic activity”.

After stressing that “it would be good” for Catalonia to take part in the debate on regional financing that began recently, the President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, stated that the public employment offer recently approved by the Government of Spain to convert interim employees into full-time employees after they pass the corresponding exams “affects 30,000 people in Catalonia”.

The post ​”BASIC” GOAL FOR BREXIT IS TO AVOID “HARMING PEOPLE”, SAYS RAJOY appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

It is virtually impossible to ignore conversations and debates about Brexit at the moment, especially with the UK general election less than a month away. However, for expats, the concerns around what the future implications of Brexit will be on our lives can be slightly different than for people still living in the UK. While there is much we can only speculate about as we don’t yet know what the terms will be for expats who live in EU countries after Britain has left the EU, there are some things that will certainly change once we are no longer living in the EU as EU citizens, and of course, the inevitable fluctuations between the pound and the euro will also affect many of us.

Property

Should it become harder for Brits to move to popular locations in the EU (particularly in Spain), the prices of properties in places with significant British expat communities may fall, unless these locations are able to attract more expats from countries like Germany to fill the gap. This could be either good or bad news, depending on whether you are looking to buy or sell. For people who want or have to sell up and move back to the UK, it could prove very problematic if housing in the UK remains as expensive as it currently is, and it is hard to predict, especially ahead of the election, whether this will be the case.

For those looking to buy in Spain or other EU countries right now, using money currently held in pounds, the fluctuations in the exchange rate are going to be very important, and keeping an eye on the forex market through important macroeconomic events like the UK election and the inauguration of the new French president may help mitigate some losses from a weak pound.

Income

We don’t yet know what rights expats who work in the EU are going to have to continue to do so, or what kind of permits or visas they may need to apply for. Many expats will be looking to gain citizenship in the countries they live in in order to ensure they can continue to work without issues, but again, it remains to be seen how easy this will be. For those who are retired and living off of pensions or savings based in the UK, the exchange rate may cause issues again, and it could be worth looking to minimise the risk of this by being more strategic about where you keep your money. As an idea, the FTSE 100 actually tends to rise when the pound falls, so perhaps investing in stocks and shares will become a popular plan for a lot of people who want to maintain the value of their money.

Legal Status

Of course, the biggest concern of all for most expats is whether they will have the same rights they do now within their chosen country, in terms of things like access to healthcare, education for their children, and other important things. This is something the answers to simply aren’t known yet, but which should become clearer over the next two years as the Brexit negotiations continue, hopefully giving people enough time to plan what they are going to do.

With so many unknowns, this is a tense time for people who have left the UK to start a life in the EU, though hopefully progress will be made quickly so we can get some of the answers we desperately need!

The post THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF BREXIT ON EXPATS appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy broadly welcomed the British Government’s statement on ‘the rights of citizens’ made in Brussels by Theresa May on Thursday evening which he described as being ‘a priority for Spain.’  He said that the proposals were a positive first step but ‘they could be better.’

May said that London will grant British status with rights to health care, education, social benefits and pensions – to any EU who has resided in the United Kingdom for five years.

However in a statement at a press conference following the European Council in Brussels Rajoy said that he felt the British Government needed to go much further in protecting the rights of those EU citizens who have made their homes in the UK for less than five years.

“I think it’s good that the first thing we talk about is the rights of citizens”, continued Rajoy, but “we would prefer to better regulate all people who have not achieved five years of residence, and that is a battle we will make”, he continued.

That is why May’s proposal “has not sounded bad, but it could have sounded better,” warned the Prime Minister, who also held an informal meeting with the British prime minister on Thursday, which he described as being held in a relaxed atmosphere.

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Open Letter to UK Citizens Living in Spain, from HMA Simon Manley

Given the success of the Spanish State Visit to the UK the week before last, which, among other things, highlighted the importance of people to people links between our two countries, I thought it timely to return to the subject of citizens’ rights in the negotiations on our departure from and future partnership with the EU. 

In the year since the EU referendum, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many of you across the country, from the Balearics to the Canaries, along the Costas and in Madrid, and our consular teams have met many more.

I know from those conversations that there has been uncertainty for many of you. My teams and I have listened to your concerns about the future, including about your residency status in Spain, the level of your UK pensions, and your access to Spanish health and other social services, and have noted the questions you have about tax, inheritance, right to work and the implications of applying for Spanish nationality.

At our meetings, on our social media and in interviews, I have also pledged to keep you up to date as negotiations on our exit from the European Union continue. So, let me update you on where matters stand now, in light of the latest negotiation round in Brussels last week.

The UK Government has been clear that citizens are our top priority in the exit negotiations. We want an agreement that provides citizens with greater certainty about their future.

Last week, we held constructive and substantive discussions with the European Commission on the bulk of the issues underpinning our respective positions on citizens’ rights.  Together we have taken a big step forward. There is a much clearer understanding on the detail of the positions on both sides and significant convergence on the key issues that really matter to citizens. You can read this technical note which compares the UK and EU positions on these issues here. It is clear both sides want to move towards an agreement.

As you know, on 26 June, the Prime Minister outlined to Parliament an offer to protect the rights of EU citizens in the UK. We are entering the negotiations with the European Commission and the other 27 EU Member States constructively and we therefore hope that the EU27 will offer reciprocal treatment for British nationals resident in the other Member States.

Many of you will have seen press reports of our 26 June offer, whether in the UK or Spanish media. I hope you will also have read the detailed proposals which are set out in “Safeguarding the position of EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU” (https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/brexit)  and I would encourage you to sign-up for email alerts (you can do so on the Home Office gov.uk page) to receive updates, to ensure that you are receiving information and guidance from official sources.

The first key element of the new proposal is residence status and working rights. Until the UK’s exit, EU citizens in the UK will continue to enjoy all the rights they currently have under EU law; they can continue to live and work in the UK just as they do now. 

The same rights also apply to you, British residents in Spain.  You can continue to live and work here in Spain as you always have done.  After the UK’s exit from the EU, we are proposing a reciprocal deal that would protect the right of UK nationals already in the EU to continue to live and work in the EU.  We hope that the European Commission and the 27 other Member States will agree to this.

The second key element is healthcare, pensions, education and access to benefits. It is our intention to treat EU citizens with settled status in the UK in the same way as if they were UK citizens for the purposes of access to education, benefits and pensions.

For you, the Government has announced that the UK will continue to export and uprate the UK State Pension and provide associated healthcare cover within the EU, issues which I know from my conversations over the last year were important to many of you.

At the moment, those of you who are UK pensioners and resident in Spain access healthcare through the S1 form.  This means the UK reimburses Spain the cost of providing medical treatment.  After the UK leaves the EU, we want to continue your healthcare entitlements on the same basis. Healthcare in Spain was indeed one of the case studies cited in the detailed proposals made by the British Government on 26 June (see link).

Subject to negotiations, we want to continue participating in the European Health Insurance Card scheme meaning EHIC holders continue to benefit from free, or reduced-cost, needs-arising healthcare while on a temporary stay in the EU — and vice versa for EU EHIC holders visiting the UK. We hope the European Commission will agree to this.

The British Government has repeatedly said that, until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force.  You can continue travelling throughout the EU on your UK passport, without any visa requirements.  You can continue to access Spanish healthcare and draw your UK pension.  If you have any difficulties accessing those rights, do please let our Consulates know

I will continue to engage with you and listen to you, as will my consular teams across Spain. In the meantime, please follow me on Twitter (@SimonManleyFCO) and access the Embassy’s social media (@UKinSpain on Twitter; British Embassy Madrid and Brits in Spain on Facebook) to keep up to date with developments.

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Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, has revealed that EU citizens will be allowed to live and work in the UK after Brexit on the condition that they are registered with the Home Office.

Although the freedom of movement will end in March 2019, the existing rules and regulations for immigration are unlikely to change during the transitional period. The rules which allow EU migrants to come to Britian “may look like a similar arrangement” during the transition to free movment.

Some Eurosceptic MPs have argued that the Government is not particularly interested in reducing the level of net migration and have argued that the Government is simply keeping the existing arrangements in place under a different name.

According to Ms Rudd, ““As part of a smooth and orderly transition as we leave the EU, the second phase of our immigration proposals is based on a temporary implementation period to ensure there is no cliff-edge on the UK’s departure for employers or individuals.

“During this period there will also be a straightforward system for the registration and documentation of new arrivals.”

Immigration Minister, Brandon Lewis, however, stated that the Government was “very clear” that there would be no free movement of labour after Brexit. According to Mr Lewis, “Free movement of labour ends when we leave the European Union in the spring of 2019 – we’re very clear about that.

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HMA Simon Manley talks about the UK state pension

You would expect the pace of BREXIT negotiations to slow down during the summer holiday period and during the month of August they certainly will but already, in the fairly short period that they have been taking place, we have some indications that we are going to get at least some of the citizens rights that we want, as a number of points of agreement, including British State Pension uprating, are revealed.

That means that those of us who rely on our UK pension to survive will see it continue to increase in the coming years and will not be frozen as it is in Canada, New Zealand or Australia

So freezing will not affect British pensioners in EU countries (or wider EEA), because the automatic reciprocity will remain as Ambassador Simon Manley explains…..

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At the end of March 2019, when the UK leaves the European Union, the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will be the only land border between Britain and the European Union.

Will this mean passport checks? “Currently, this seems unlikely,” said RHA Director of Policy, Rod McKenzie.

“The EU has already indicated that in the final deal it would like to see a codified version of the 1920s common travel agreement – which means passport-free travel for Irish and British citizens between the two islands.”

“Since the Good Friday agreement ended the Troubles almost 20 years ago, the border has become invisible. However, as the UK has said it will leave the EU internal market, it is inevitable that there will be customs controls imposed.”

Trade and services between both sides now flourishes with over 30,000 people crossing the Ireland-Northern Ireland border daily.

“Automating customs controls so that goods can move without delay at the land border is essential – achieving this will be difficult. The RHA is urging the Governments to reach an agreement for customs formalities to be done away from the border itself.”

“This will be possible, but will need a significant investment in time and money for companies moving goods over the border. We need an implementation period to give time to customs and businesses the time to put in place the systems to manage any new system.”

“Any agreement must ensure that Ireland does not become a back door for unauthorised migrants, desperate to reach the UK.”

In conclusion, Rod McKenzie said: “The journey between Northern Ireland and the Republic is only a matter of metres and represents no deterrent at all. Controlling the movement of goods will be a challenge for everyone crossing the border”.

The post What’s to become of The Northern/Republic of Ireland border post Brexit? Asks RHA appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

UK’s Chief Brexit negotiator, David Davis, says that he has reached an agreement with the EU that British and EU pensioners will retain their reciprocal rights to healthcare on Brexit.

He says that the deal applies to pensioners throughout the European Union, whether they are living in the UK or elsewhere. This means that the National Health Service will continue to pay for pensioner’s healthcare, after a deal was agreed, in principle, by negotiators in Brussels.

Davis welcomed the agreement saying that “this is particularly good news for British pensioners who are residing in the EU. It is one of just a handful of advances that we have made but it is one of the most important and will put the minds of a good many people at rest.”

Other areas of agreement included the continuing recognition of professional qualifications across the bloc, allowing lawyers, doctors, accountants, seafarers, train drivers and others who have moved to or from the UK to another EU country to continue working under their existing credentials.

He added that agreements had also been reached with regard to “frontier workers”, people who live in one country but commute to work in another.

According to figures issued to a parliamentary select committee this year, Britain spends £650m reimbursing other EU countries for treating British patients. Of that, about £500m goes on 190,000 registered pensioners, including 70,000 in Spain, 44,000 in Ireland, 43,000 in France and 12,000 in Cyprus.

The agreement will also allow a British pensioner who has retired in another EU country to travel to other EU countries on holidays and continue to use the existing European Health Insurance Card should they need medical attention.

But not all has been plain sailing by any means, according to the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier. “There is still disagreement on more than half the issues discussed, including the eventual oversight of the legal rights of EU citizens,” which he insisted should continue to be held by the European court of justice.

The post Davis says he has Healthcare agreement post Brexit appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

According to UK property portal, Zoopla, Spain is still the most searched for foreign destination for Brits looking for a place in the sun in Europe. In the past six weeks the portal has seen an increase of 17% in the number of searches with Spain coming ahead of France and Portugal.

Other popular search terms include “pool”, “beach”, “sea view”, and “villa”.

British interest in Spain has risen considerably in the last year. Since the announcement of Brexit, a number of property portals have announced that they have seen an increase in the number of searches by Brits for property in Spain.

Many Brits are thought to be looking for their place in the sun before post-Brexit red tape is introduced.

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Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech on Brexit in Florence today, Stephen Martin, Director General of the Institute of Directors, said:

 “Businesses will be pleased that a transition or implementation period has been firmly established as government policy. As the UK is seeking an ‘imaginative and creative’ deal from the EU, we have to be realistic that this will take some time. There will need to be enough space given in order to negotiate this new relationship, and then firms need time to prepare once it’s been agreed.

It is absolutely vital that businesses only have to adjust once to the new rules. The Prime Minister said that the implementation period would be time-limited, but this, like so many things, is still subject to negotiation.

“There was welcome honesty in today’s speech that not following one of the existing models will have some implications for market access for UK firms. A lot more honesty will be needed as the Brexit negotiations continue, as any decision on immigration or regulation, for example, will have knock-on effects and businesses and the public are entitled to know what the trade-offs are.

“IoD members will adapt to a new relationship with the EU.  Brexit is a huge undertaking, and the Government will only make a success of it if it acknowledges that stepping back from the EU will require diligence and compromise. Companies will now be hoping the Government unites behind this common purpose, and hope to see significant progress in the next round of talks.” 

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Brussels, 22 September 2017

In her speech in Florence, Prime Minister Theresa May has expressed a constructive spirit which is also the spirit of the European Union during this unique negotiation.

The speech shows a willingness to move forward, as time is of the essence. We need to reach an agreement by autumn 2018 on the conditions of the United Kingdom’s orderly withdrawal from the European Union. The UK will become a third country on 30 March 2019.

Our priority is to protect the rights of citizens. EU27 citizens in the United Kingdom must have the same rights as British citizens today in the European Union. These rights must be implemented effectively and safeguarded in the same way in the United Kingdom as in the European Union, as recalled by the European Council and European Parliament. Prime Minister May’s statements are a step forward but they must now be translated into a precise negotiating position of the UK government.

With regard to Ireland, the United Kingdom is the co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement. Today’s speech does not clarify how the UK intends to honour its special responsibility for the consequences of its withdrawal for Ireland. Our objective is to preserve the Good Friday Agreement in all its dimensions, as well as the integrity of the Single Market and the Customs Union.

The United Kingdom recognises that no Member State will have to pay more or receive less because of Brexit. We stand ready to discuss the concrete implications of this pledge. We shall assess, on the basis of the commitments taken by the 28 Member States, whether this assurance covers all commitments made by the United Kingdom as a Member State of the European Union.

Today, for the first time, the United Kingdom government has requested to continue to benefit from access to the Single Market, on current terms, and to continue to benefit from existing cooperation in security. This is for a limited period of up to two years, beyond its withdrawal date, and therefore beyond its departure from the EU institutions.

If the European Union so wishes, this new request could be taken into account. It should be examined in light of the European Council guidelines of 29 April 2017: “Should a time-limited prolongation of Union acquis be considered, this would require existing Union regulatory, budgetary, supervisory, judiciary and enforcement instruments and structures to apply.”

The sooner we reach an agreement on the principles of the orderly withdrawal in the different areas – and on the conditions of a possible transition period requested by the United Kingdom – the sooner we will be ready to engage in a constructive discussion on our future relationship.

The EU shares the goal of establishing an ambitious partnership for the future. The fact that the government of the United Kingdom recognises that leaving the European Union means that it cannot keep all the benefits of membership with fewer obligations than the other Member States is welcome. In any case, the future relationship will need to be based on a balance of rights and obligations. It will need to respect the integrity of the Union’s legal order and the autonomy of its decision-making.

The EU will continue to insist on sufficient progress in the key areas of the orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom before opening discussions on the future relationship. Agreeing on the essential principles in these areas will create the trust that is needed for us to build a future relationship together.

David Davis and I will meet in Brussels next Monday to begin the fourth round of the negotiations. As always, we are preparing the upcoming round with the 27 Member States and the European Parliament. On Monday I will have a discussion with the European Parliament in its Brexit Steering Group, as well as with all Member States in the General Affairs Council.

We look forward to the United Kingdom’s negotiators explaining the concrete implications of Prime Minister Theresa May’s speech. Our ambition is to find a rapid agreement on the conditions of the United Kingdom’s orderly withdrawal, as well as on a possible transition period.

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Introducing customs declarations after Brexit would affect up to 180,000 UK traders and could cost traders over £4 billion a year, according to a new study.

Published by Institute for Government (IfG), Implementing Brexit: Customs says preparing the border for Brexit is a huge task with a hard deadline. Being ready for day one requires the Government to orchestrate change across more than thirty government departments and public bodies, as well as over 100 local authority organisations.

But the report also highlights the critical role played by organisations outside government. It shows the complex web of private sector organisations that must also be ready to ensure UK trade can continue to cross the border on day one after Brexit.

The report adds that while most people recognise the customs cliff edge in the UK, not enough attention is paid to the cliff edge on the other side of the English Channel. Unless Calais, Dunkirk, Rotterdam or other European ports are also ready for Brexit, British exporters will face significant disruption to their supply chains. Preparations on both sides is particularly vital in the case of the Irish land border.

The report offers recommendations to help the UK avoid the customs cliff edge, such as moving customs requirements away from the physical border, retaining access to key EU computer systems and establishing working groups on implementation details with the private sector.

Finally, the report says government must successfully deliver its new customs technology programme to avoid disruption at the border after Brexit – but the system is already facing significant issues because of constricted timelines.

Joe Owen, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government, said:

“The UK Government is only one of many players who need to be ready if disruption is to be minimised on day one after Brexit. But the problem is that everyone from port operators to small traders can only undertake limited preparation while future arrangements are so uncertain.

“When it comes to customs, business faces a canyon not a cliff edge. Disruption can be caused from either side of the border, and we are reliant on the successful preparation of our European partners too.”

Marcus Shepheard, Researcher at the Institute for Government, said:

“The Government has said that new technology will help, but has provided little clarity about how. In fact, it seems unable to manage existing technology. So with less than two years to go, ministers must be clear about what is and what is not feasible.”

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Further flexibility needed from both sides, says business group – UK must guarantee rights of EU citizens, and EU must drop insistence ECJ be arbiter of withdrawal agreement

Responding to the latest round of Brexit negotiations, Allie Renison, Head of EU and Trade Policy at the Institute of Directors, said:

“The IoD welcomes clear signs of progress during this week’s round of negotiations, which shows that the Prime Minister’s intervention last week has helped to ease some of the deadlock.

“We are pleased to see further developments on citizens’ rights, but would warn both the UK and EU that further flexibility is needed in this and other areas to move the discussions on, at a faster pace. The clock is still ticking.

“The Government’s proposal to give direct effect to the withdrawal agreement is an important milestone, and the European Commission should move away from insisting that the ECJ be the ultimate arbiter and enforcement arm as a result. However, the UK still seems to be dragging its feet on matching the full content of EU nationals’ existing rights, which is hard to understand given the PM’s insistence in her Florence speech that these would be guaranteed.

“It is also imperative that both sides do not let these and other remaining separation issues block a discussion about transition, and hope that, if the Government has not already made a formal proposal for interim arrangements, that it will do so at the next negotiating round.  Reports that the EU may be considering parallel discussions in this regard are very welcome indeed, and Brussels should acknowledge that this is a distinct question from future trade relations.”

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