Alicante’s British Consul Sara-Jane Morris was in Torrevieja on Monday where she spoke to an audience of about a hundred British residents about the agreements and further negotiations regarding BREXIT that are currently taking place between the UK and the EU.

Deputy Mayor Fanny Serrano and Councillor for Foreign Residents, Carmen Morate, also attended the meeting at which Ms Morate stressed the availability of the City to act as as a mediator so that these informative meetings can be held. She said “they are very important in order to highlight the concerns of British Expats. The questions they raise are many and must be resolved so that they can make any necessary arrangements as soon as possible.” She added that another meeting is scheduled for next October.

The meeting took place in the Hall of the Plenary Session of the City Council, where concerns were raised on behalf of the nearly 5,000 Britons who live in the city, many whom have done so for many years.

Among the issues raised were health care, the European Union Registration Certificate, a right to vote and the continuing payment of pensions from the UK.

The British consul said that answers to many of the questions raised are not known but it is an absolute necessity “that the British living in Spain have their correct certificate of registration and their certificate of Residence before the March 19 next year because it is important that they are legally registered as living in Spain.” She added that the negotiations for those who are residents of Spain before the exit date will continue with the same rights and obligations as they currently enjoy.

The representative of the National Association Brexpats inSpain, Richard Hill, and the British vice-consul of Alicante, Sarah Munsterhjelm, were also present at the meeting.

The post Almost a hundred attend Torrevieja BREXIT Seminar appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

Consul urges residents to check residency status and get information from the original source.

British Consul Sarah-Jane Morris visited nine towns in the Alicante province over the past month to update British nationals on the progress of the citizens’ rights part of the Brexit negotiations and to answer questions. 

Mrs Morris also reminded British nationals of the benefits of registering as a resident in Spain, both with the national police (“residencia”) and with their local town hall (“padron”).

Attendance across the towns was high, the Consul having reached nearly 2000 people.  Representatives of Brexpats in Spain pressure group were also on the panel at the meetings, as were local mayors and councillors.  Various topics came up during the question and answer sessions, especially regarding healthcare, pensions and residency rights and obligations.

On residency rights, all speakers were united in encouraging British nationals to check they are properly registered in Spain, and to get registered if they haven’t already done so.

Consul Sarah-Jane Morris said, ‘I would advise anyone who is concerned about Brexit to make sure they always go to the original source for information. Everything that has been discussed and agreed so far can be found on the gov.uk website – it’s easy to check and sign up for email alerts.

I also picked up that a lot of people are still not clear about their residency status in Spain in terms of renewing their residency and padron. As I said in the meetings, I will follow this up with the relevant local authorities and we will continue to publish up-to-date accurate information on our gov.uk website and Brits in Spain Facebook page.’

The number of British people registered on the padron, the local register held by the town halls which is used to allocate funding from central government, has been in decline over the past few years. 

Mrs Morris stated that despite the one million homes in Spain owned by British citizens, less than 300,000 are registered on the padron nationally.  Town hall representatives welcomed attendees at the meetings to come and check their registration status at their local town hall office.

The Consul finished the meetings by reminding people to check for updates about the Brexit negotiations from the official sources – namely the Gov.uk website (www.gov.uk/world/brexit).

Videos and interviews recorded at the recent meetings will soon be posted on the Brits In Spain Facebook page.

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The post Brexit: sounding more like a dog’s dinner every day appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

Expats who intend to remain in Spain following BREXIT and who are not in possession of a Spanish Driving Licence will not be allowed to drive.

Officials at the EU have said that British Licences will not be valid in the EU after Brexit which would bring an end to the mutual recognition of driving licences and vehicle registration documents between Britain and the EU and as such, Britons could be banned from driving in EU countries.

As a ‘consequence of the UK becoming a third country in the road transport sector, all current EU law-based rights, obligations and benefits [would] cease’.

Not only could this stop drivers taking their own vehicles overseas, failure to reach an agreement could also see Britons blocked from hiring cars when on holiday without a special permit.

It would also affect those drivers who, although resident in Spain, continue to drive on a UK licence.

Perhaps now would be a good time to make that licence change prior to being rushed into it as next year’s deadline approaches.

The post UK Driving Licences not valid in Spain after BREXIT appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

When you left the UK did you think you would also be leaving the country’s politics behind? If so that has turned out not to be the case because it is likely that ex-pats will be affected financially in some way when Britain leaves the EU.

No matter how far you travelled it would be difficult to stop hearing about Brexit – but there’s good reason to pay attention to what is going on. Although we don’t yet know what form it will take or even if there could be a second Brexit referendum once the deal is finalised, there are some predictions we can make fairly safely, and there are some areas you should be paying particular attention to regarding your assets.

What we know

Whether or not a deal has been agreed between those involved, the UK will formally leave the EU on the 29^th of March 2019. Economic uncertainty about what will then happen is likely to lead to a fall in the value of the pound. How severe that is and how long it lasts will depend on how much has been agreed between the UK and EU, how many economic arrangements will remain constant, and how many alternative trading arrangements the UK has been able to establish with non-EU countries.

Stocks and shares

After an initial shock, the UK economy reacted to the vote to leave the EU less dramatically than many had feared, but since then there have been worrying signs as some large companies have chosen to withdraw their business from the country altogether. If you have money invested in UK business, it’s time to check how your sector is doing. The service industry seems to be bearing up but construction may be in trouble because it’s heavily dependent on EU imports, and finance sector experts say they simply can’t predict what will happen in their part of the economy.

Property

If you have property in the UK, you will no longer be able to rely on its value going up unless you are able to hold onto it for at least a decade. It might still be worth retaining a UK base if possible as insurance against having to leave your current home if residency arrangements cannot be agreed. That is unlikely to happen because all EU members will want to protect their citizens resident in other parts of Europe, including the UK.

Pensions

In the immediate term, established pension arrangements that don’t depend on EU law mean you will continue to have any UK pension you receive as usual. In the longer term, however, the UK government may cease to pay increases related to inflation, as it will no longer be legally obliged to do so.

Protecting your investments

Now is a good time to assess any investments you have in the UK and prepare yourself for the coming changes. If you have a significant amount invested, it would be wise to seek professional help. Shard Capital Partners LLC are experts in asset management who work with private individuals as well as companies. They’re used to working in an international context and can also provide useful advice if you choose to move your capital.

In the long-term, it’s difficult to predict exactly what the consequences of Brexit will be, but if you’re depending on UK-based assets for your day to day income, the smart move is to opt for additional security in preparation for what is likely to be a volatile period.

The post How Brexit might affect your assets in the UK appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

Of course, the tabloids never miss an opportunity to try and raise the blood pressure, so it was with some amusement that I read the headline in one tabloid this week that “Brit Expats flock from Spain because of Brexit”. Seriously? I have yet to meet an established expat living in Spain, either in person or online, who is planning to return to the UK simply because of Brexit.

However, I do know many who have been widowed, have significant health issues or whose businesses or relationships have collapsed and are reluctantly being forced to return to the UK, but not simply because of Brexit.

Conversely, I know of several Brits who are so upset with Brexit, high cost of living, as well as the appalling weather, that they are ready to move to Spain and other European countries at the earliest opportunity. Let’s have a look at the assertion that Brits are leaving Spain by the plane load and put these headlines into some form of context.

It is true that the fall in the pound against the euro has been substantial and has had a significant impact upon the lifestyle of many British expats who are surviving on a state pension. Compared with the heady days some years ago when one pound could buy somewhere between 1.40 and 1.50 euros, there has been a considerable change in the fortunes of many expats.

It was clear to many that the pound was grossly overvalued at that time and would not last. There is also an assertion that Spain has become “incredibly expensive”. Again, just have a chat with a newly arrived expat, who will leave you in no doubt as to which is the most expensive country to live in – just start off with heating bills and the price of a decent cup of coffee…

There is an assertion that the number of expats leaving Spain outnumber those now arriving in the country. I suggest that this is a highly questionable statistic and should be challenged; as with all statistics, they can be manipulated in any direction to make a good story.

My own, admittedly limited contacts with removals companies, lawyers and other professionals, particularly in the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol, tell me that the balance between those expats arriving as well as leaving broadly evens out, and that there is no expat panic.  The flood of expats returning to the UK appears to be merely a convenient tabloid illusion.

There is also a huge disparity in official numbers of those living in Spain, and there could be two main factors at play here. There has been a change in municipal enrolment rules with tens of thousands of Brits previously registered, but who have returned to the UK or died, and inconsiderately forgetting to notify the town hall. 

Town halls benefit from having more residents, which means greater levels of funding and so there was previously no incentive for town halls to encourage people to deregister when they left the country. A change in the law in 2010 has since meant that municipalities must now confirm if a person is still in the area every two years, or every five years if the person is listed in the Central Registry of Foreigners, which has led to many being removed from the official registers.

This disparity in official numbers might also be explained by the number of foreign residents who live in Spain, but have not applied for residency.

It is uncertain issues, such as health and social care, that currently concern most British expats living in Spain, despite vague assurances from both Spanish and British Governments that all will be well. Many expats consider it unwise to move from a country where the health service is generally accepted to be under less pressure than the UK’s health service at a time in their lives when they may need it.

There is also the cost of renting or purchasing a home in the UK to consider, with many expats simply no longer having significant financial resources to draw upon.  It is also worth remembering that many Brits moved to Spain when they were over 65 at the beginning of 2000. Many are now left widowed, resulting in an increasing desire to return to their families in the UK. Once again, this has very little to do with Brexit. Now, let’s have a look at the next tabloid scare story…

 If you enjoyed this article, take a look at my websites: http://barriemahoney.com and http://thecanaryislander.com or read my latest book, ‘Living in Spain and the Canary Islands’ (ISBN: 9780995602724). Available in paperback, as well as Kindle editions.

Join me on Facebook: @barrie.mahoney

© Barrie Mahoney

The post Brexit and the Faint Hearted Expat appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

British Consul Sarah-Jane Morris will attend the following outreach events this week to answer British residents’ concerns about Brexit and living in Spain.

The event details are:

La Nucia: 17th May 2018 – 13:30pm Cultural Centre Auditori de la Mediterrania, Sala Ponent, La Nucia

Finestrat:17th May 2018 – 5:00pm Casa de Cultura, Partida el Fondo S/N, Finestrat.

Benidorm campsite: 18th May – 11:00am camping Villamar, Carretera Albir 03503– (www.campingvillamar.com/en/)

Alfas del Pi campsite: 18th May – 1:00pm Camping International Almafra, Partida de Cabut, 25, 03503 L’Alfàs del Pi, Alicante, Spain

You don’t have to be resident in these towns to attend the events; they are open for any British citizen who is interested in finding out more about the subject.

These events are part of the efforts made by the British Consulates in Spain to meet with British citizens across Spain, to ensure that the concerns they raise around healthcare, pensions and residency rights are understood by the UK negotiating team and reflected in their discussions with our EU partners about our departure from the EU. 

Advice for UK citizens living in the EU can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/advice-for-british-nationals-travelling-and-living-in-europe . We  recommend following our Brits in Spain Facebook page, and to sign up for alerts from the gov.uk page to ensure you are getting accurate information.

The post Brexit outreach events to be held this week appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

On Tuesday 5 June, British Consul Sarah-Jane Morris will visit San Pedro del Pinatar to talk to residents about any concerns they have around Brexit and to provide an update on the progress of Brexit negotiations. Mrs Morris will take questions during the meeting. Town councillor José Fernando Lorente García and charity representatives from ADAPT, Help Murcia Mar Menor and Help at Home will also feature on the panel.

The event will take place at 12.00 midday, in La Casa de Cultura, in Calle Alcalde Julio Albaladejo, San Pedro del Pinatar.

You do not have to be resident in this town to attend the event; it is open for anyone who is interested in finding out more about the subject.

The event is part of the efforts made by the British Consulates in Spain to meet with British citizens across Spain, to ensure that the concerns they raise around healthcare, pensions and residency rights are understood by the UK negotiating team and reflected in their discussions with our EU partners about our departure from the EU. 

Advice for UK citizens living in the EU can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/advice-for-british-nationals-travelling-and-living-in-europe.

We recommend following our Brits in Spain Facebook page, and to sign up for alerts from the gov.uk page to ensure you are getting accurate information.

The post Upcoming Brexit event with British Consul in San Pedro del Pinatar appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

A meeting was held on Thursday 21^st June, at the town´s Centro de Usos Múltiples, on the topic which is of great concern to many, Brexit.

Those present included the Mayor, Rosmari Cano, Lucas Mayo, Mojácar’s Councillor for Foreigners, our British Consul Charmaine Arbouin, BREXPATS Vice President Richard Hill, Ignacio Pellicer Mollá the Legal Advisor from Pellicer & Heredia, Michael Davies from Davies Abogado and, Javier Duran, from the Almería Extranjero Office.

A number of BREXPATS organisers and representatives (who all give their time voluntarily) were also there including; Helen Meehan, Aida Cabrera Morris, Helen Killen and Des and Pamela Daly.

Following introductions and a welcome by Richard Hill, the Mayor gave an opening speech, thanking BREXPATS for holding this very important meeting in Mojácar, stressing the important of the British people to the town.

The first part of the meeting covered registration, with Javier Duran on hand to answer questions, with confirmation that Residencia is required for people who reside continually for three months or more in Spain. Some queries from the audience were clarified on N.I.E. and the Padrón as well as eligibility for medical cover and Residencia requirements when applying. 

It was stressed that the N.I.E. number is for legal transactions such as buying a house or a car and can be obtained by anybody, but it does not grant any resident rights.  As individual cases vary so much, Lucas Mayo additionally advised those who need more advice and wish to discuss these matters further that he is available every Thursday morning at Mojácar Town Hall.

Charmaine Arbouin then went on to explain the role of the Consulate and how important she feels it is to get out and about to answer queries at events such as this, especially following the Brexit Vote in June 2016. She, (along with others on the day) stressed that most important thing you can do as an expat living in Spain is to make sure you are fully legally registered (Padrón, N.I.E, Residencia, Fiscal) as well as changing your U.K. driving licence for a Spanish one.

She strongly advised that if anyone is not registered yet, to do it sooner rather than later to avoid problems post Brexit. In the case of Mojácar, it would appear that only around 700 British people have Residencia, although many more are on the Padrón.

She went on to confirm that U.K. state pensions will remain indexed linked, but the contentious issue of voting rights and standing as a councillor here is still under discussion. However, it was emphasised that in anticipation of the outcome that you make sure you are on the voting register at the Town Hall. Issues surrounding freedom of movement have been deferred to a later date, to be discussed after October.

Richard Hill talked about BREXPATS in Spain, their ethos and campaigns they have on behalf of U.K. citizens living in Spain. He repeated the importance of maintaining our right to vote and to take steps to be fully registered.

He advised everyone to keep informed with the facts not rumour by looking at and getting updates from www.gov.uk and BREXPATS.es and BREXPATS in Spain Facebook groups as the more members the organisation has, the more their voice will be heard.

It was a meeting with as many questions as answers in the current uncertain times but, a number of issues were clarified and the event was welcomed by the attendees with the knowledge that there are those working hard on behalf of the British population in Spain.

The post Mojácar Hosts Brexit Meeting appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

• Political divisions over Brexit are creating a culture of secrecy in Whitehall.

This report argues that the greatest challenge in delivering Brexit now stems from the inability of a split Cabinet to make critical decisions. Political tensions are encouraging secrecy, where access to key documents is highly restricted. Important information is not being shared between departments, and those outside government with a legitimate reason to be kept informed, such as Parliament and business, are being kept in the dark.

This secrecy makes effective co-ordination across departments, devolved administrations and public bodies difficult. Preparations are being hindered by competing ministerial preferences, lack of information and the deferral of critical decisions on the UK’s preferred future relationship.

The report also identifies three other challenges, including struggling to get (and keep) the right civil servants in place, inconsistent planning assumptions and ineffective consultation with business. The paper makes five recommendations to help get Whitehall back on the road to delivering Brexit:

1. The Department for Exiting the EU (DExEU) and the Cabinet Office should set out how they plan to run formal negotiations with the EU after March 2019, and how the rest of Whitehall will be involved.
2. DExEU and the Cabinet Office should work with the Department for International Trade to set out how the Government plans to consult businesses and other affected groups during Brexit negotiations.
3. The Prime Minister should put a minister (David Lidington) and official (John Manzoni) in charge of Brexit readiness.
4. Departments should cut back on their existing priorities, supported by their non-executive directors.
5. DExEU must give its staff as much certainty as possible on the future of the department, in order to reduce the level of staff turnover at such a critical time.

https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

The post Preparing Brexit: How ready is Whitehall? appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

Concerns have been raised that we will leave the EU with only a vague idea of what the future relationship looks like. But that has always been the case, as it suits the Government quite well, says Tim Durrant. 

Brexit / Policy making

The idea of a ‘blind Brexit’ has been floated in recent days, with Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, among others, raising the prospect of the UK leaving the EU with no certainty over what the future relationship will look like. But nobody should be surprised that this is where we’re heading. It is easier, both practically and politically, to get the UK out of the EU and worry about the detail of the future relationship later.

We’ve known this was going to be the case all along

Back in the mists of 2016, before the referendum, David Cameron’s government published a series of papers looking at what a Leave vote would mean, including one which set out the process for leaving. This paper was the first to note that the withdrawal agreement and future relationship would probably be different negotiations. After Theresa May triggered Article 50, the European Council published its guidelines for the negotiations.

These established the ‘phased approach’ to negotiations, in which the UK’s withdrawal from the EU had to be wrapped up before the future could be discussed. And even if the EU was willing to negotiate the future relationship before the UK leaves the EU, as the chart below shows, the two-year Article 50 period is nowhere near long enough to get a detailed deal of the kind that the UK wants:

But there are degrees of ‘blindness’

While the detail of the trade deal won’t be agreed before Brexit, there will be a ‘framework’ on the future relationship. This will not be a legally binding document, but it will at least shine a light on where the current set of negotiators think a deal might land. But a Government can’t push for a given outcome if it doesn’t know what it wants, and this one has been beset by indecision. Only with the publication last month of the Chequers white paper have serious discussions been able to start.

The Prime Minister will almost definitely need to make more concessions to the EU. This could involve changes to the customs proposals, the relationship between the UK and the European Court of Justice or the future rules on EU migration to the UK. Being flexible in these areas may deliver a partially-sighted Brexit, rather than one that is completely blind, but is likely to provoke more criticism for the Government at home.

It suits the Government to keep Brexit blind

To get a deal over the line, the Government has to appease many different constituencies, including Leave and Remain-supporting MPs and, of course, the rest of the EU. The less specific the future framework document is, the less likely it is that people will find something in it to disagree with, so it suits the Government to keep it ambiguous.

While the future framework is likely to give us a sense of where we’re heading, it won’t tell us exactly. The best we can hope for is something vague, which will be fleshed out while the UK is held in stasis in the transition. The UK may not be completely blind after March next year, but it’s going to be in the dark for a couple more years at least.

By Tim Durrant

https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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According to data recently published by the  Statistical Information Centre of Notaries in Spain, Brits are STILL in the lead which is comes to the number of foreign buyers active in the Spanish property market in 2017.

Property sales in Spain ground to a halt in 2008 as both Spanish nationals and international buyers reduced their level of activity in the Spanish property marketplace following the onset of the economic crisis in Spain.

However, more than 500.000 Spanish property transactions were recorded in 2017, an increase of around 17% from the previous year. Of those transactions, foreign buyers accounted for almost 20%, a year-on-year increase of more than 14%.

Despite showing a decrease in the number of property purchases made by Brits in the first quarter of 2017, the number of transactions by Brits picked up in the second quarter resulting in the British maintaining the top spot as the most active of all buyers within the European Union (EU) with 14% of the property transactions recorded. They were followed by the French (8.6%), Germans (8.2%), Romanians (6.9%), Belgians (6%), and the Swedish (5.3%).

Outside of the European Union, the Moroccans, the Chinese, and the Russians recorded a good percentage of property transactions with 5.5% (an increase of 36% from 2016), 4.9%, and 3% respectively.

There was also more activity from Ecuadorians (33% increase from 2016), Romanians (31% increase from 2016), Portugese (30% increase from 2016), and Americans (27% increase from 2016).

The Valencian Community is the most popular with foreign buyers of property in Spain with 28% of the total number of property transactions. Andalusia takes second place with 18% or property transactions and Catalonia, despite the political instability of recent months, takes third position with 15% of sales.

Image: Stunning luxurious villa with eight bedrooms on 5000m2 plot for sale in Algorfa from Spanish property experts, Spanish Riviera Homes.

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As many of you are no doubt aware, this autumn will be an important period in the ongoing Brexit negotiations, leading up to the European Council meeting on 18 October. Ahead of that, you might have seen that the Government has published a series of  technical notices on a range of areas, to help businesses and citizens prepare in the unlikely event of a no deal Brexit.

Firstly, let me reassure you though that the Government does not want, nor does it expect, a no deal outcome in the negotiations.  As a result of the significant progress made in negotiations, I remain confident that the UK will agree a positive and ambitious deal with the EU – an outcome that is in the interests of both the UK and the EU, and in the interest of both British and EU citizens.

And of course, we continue to discuss the implementation of the deal agreed last December on the rights of UK citizens currently living in the EU and EU citizens living in the UK with the Spanish authorities.  But as a responsible government, we must prepare for all eventualities, however unlikely. Hence these technical notices on driving licences, and travelling between the UK and the EU, amongst other subjects.

I appreciate that this is a period of uncertainty and many of you have questions and want more advice for UK nationals living in Spain. We want to help you prepare for all scenarios and further relevant information will continue to be made available on gov.uk over the coming weeks.

And both the Embassy and Consulates will continue with the outreach events that we have planned throughout Spain, with some 20 such events planned between now and the end of the year, and ensure that your questions and concerns are shared with the relevant UK government departments.

In the meantime, please ensure you are correctly registered here in Spain, and stay up to date with the latest news, by signing up for email alerts and visiting the Living in Spain guide on gov.uk, and continue to follow our “Brits in Spain” social media channels, including on facebook. 

Both I and our UK in Spain consular teams will continue to share with you what we know, when we know it, to provide you with as much clarity as possible.

The post An open letter from HMA Simon Manley to British citizens living in Spain appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

By Michael Doherty, Woodbrook Group CEO   

LACK of clarity about the terms of Brexit is causing huge concern to British industry, commerce and to the 1.3 million citizens of the United Kingdom living in Cyprus and throughout the Europe Union. Their chief fear is that the UK will depart without a deal of any sort.

Early in the process, Prime Minister Theresa May declared that ‘no deal is better than a bad deal’. That slogan was all very well when it seemed certain there would be a deal of some sort but, as the exit date draws nearer, uncertainty is creating real distress.

These fears were exacerbated last week as May as EU leaders took it in turns to rubbish May’s Chequers plan at the summit in Salzburg, further undermining her authority and increasing the likelihood of a hard or ‘no deal’ Brexit.

Industry faces the biggest challenge but the difficulties for ex-pats are also daunting. UK consumers could face slower and more costly credit card payments when they buy EU products. British citizens living abroad could lose access to payments from their bank accounts, and have difficulty receiving pension payments. Health care arrangements could be threatened.

Ardent Brexiteers dismiss these warnings as scaremongering. But, while everyone hopes the worst will not happen, it makes good sense to prepare for it nonetheless.

In March it was agreed that a 21-month transition period would postpone the full effects of Brexit until the end of 2020. The working assumption is that even if nothing else is agreed, this transition period will still apply.

During this phase, EU citizenship and associated rights will continue for Britons, allowing businesses and citizens more time to prepare for changes that will eventually come. For expatriates, this extends the deadline for securing residency and locking in existing EU benefits to 31 December 2020.

But, be warned. If the two sides cannot agree the final terms of a withdrawal treaty, it is possible that the original Brexit cut-off date of 29 March 2019 will apply.

Either way, once Brexit takes full effect, automatic freedom of movement for Britons will end and a new application process will apply for living or working within the EU. British citizens living in an EU country, but not yet registered with the local authorities, should do so urgently to help demonstrate that they are legally resident and therefore eligible to benefit from the citizens’ rights agreement. If possible, they should take other steps to help prove settled status, such as registering for the electoral roll or joining the local healthcare system.

The citizens’ rights agreement of 2017 commits Britain and the EU to maintaining existing residency rights for UK and EU nationals ‘lawfully residing’ within either area. So a British citizen legally settled in an EU member state before withdrawal would keep the right to stay there for as long as they remain resident in that country.

For pensioners, uncertainty over Brexit is the cause of sleepless nights. Their plans for a carefree retirement have been rocked and many fear that any changes to current health care arrangements could be a disaster.

More than half a million British pensioners are living in other EU countries but the idea that only elderly Britons live abroad is simply not true. For every British pensioner living in an EU country there are two Britons of working age.

They will be fervently hoping for a deal between Britain and the EU but they should also be making plans for how to live without one.

The uncertainty about how and when Britain will take its leave has raised immediate concerns, such as how to deal with exchange rate fluctuations.

A forward contract option from a currency brokerage will allow you to lock in a current rate for up to 12 months.

If you plan to send money in stages, such as a pension fund or student allowances, a regular payment plan will allow you to send funds throughout the month at an agreed rate, which in most cases would be better than offered by a High Street bank.

*Michael Doherty is CEO of Woodbrook Group. If you require any further information, or would like to speak to Michael directly, please contact Shane Doran on +353 87 356 1722

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Minister at the Department for Exiting the EU, Robin Walker, was in Madrid yesterday to meet with Spanish government ministers and members of the business community. He also took part in a roundtable discussion on citizens’ rights with spokespeople from groups representing UK nationals in Spain.

Members of Brexpats in Spain, Bremain in Spain, EuroCitizens and ECREU were welcomed to the British Embassy by Deputy Head of Mission Tim Hemmings, where, as well as meeting with the minister, they spent time with different members of the Embassy and consular teams, discussing issues including health and social care, outreach and communications.

The aim of the day was to provide the representatives of the citizens’ groups with a greater insight into the work the Embassy network does on behalf of UK nationals, provide an update on the progress of the Brexit negotiations and respond to any questions and concerns.

Minister Walker said:

“I was pleased to have the chance to meet with representatives of the British expat community and update them about what the government is doing to safeguard their rights post-Brexit.

I also valued the opportunity to hear their concerns about residency, pensions, onward movement and voting rights, and the uncertainty that many of them still feel about what Brexit means for them and their families.

Securing the rights of citizens has always been our top priority. The draft Withdrawal Agreement will secure the rights of UK nationals living in Spain, and Spanish citizens and their family members living in the UK.

But, in the unlikely event we leave without a deal, the Prime Minister has confirmed that all EU citizens resident in the UK before 29 March 2019 will be able to stay. And I want British expats in Spain to know that, during my meetings, I have underlined how valued and significant it would be if the Spanish Government now offered them the same reassurance.” 

HMA Simon Manley said:

“There are 180,000 Spanish people living in the UK, and some 300,000 British people have chosen to make Spain their home.

The strong people-to-people links are at the heart of our bilateral relationship with Spain. That is why I am pleased that Robin Walker was able to meet with representatives of UK nationals’ citizens’ rights groups in Spain, as well as the Spanish Government.

Meanwhile, as the negotiations continue, both the Embassy and consulates will continue with the outreach events that we have planned through Spain, with some 20 events planned between now and the end of the year.

In the meantime, I continue to urge all UK nationals living in Spain to ensure you are correctly registered and stay up to date with the latest news, by signing up for email alerts and visiting the Living in Spain guide on gov.uk, and following our Brits in Spain social media channels, including on Facebook.”

Background

Advice for UK nationals living in Spain can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-spain, alongside advice for those travelling and living in Europe here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/advice-for-british-nationals-travelling-and-living-in-europe.

We recommend following our Brits in Spain Facebook page, and to sign up for alerts from the gov.uk page to ensure you are getting official and accurate information.

The post Minister Robin Walker meets UK groups in Spain to discuss Brexit  appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

I often write about bananas. First and foremost, I like eating them and, secondly, we have a very large banana tree growing and fruiting in our garden, which provides endless entertainment and annoyance for our dog, Bella, who, since she is partially sighted, is obsessed with the banana tree and is convinced that a gentle breeze moving the large, luxurious leaves, is actually a dangerous enemy from which she must protect us.

Bananas, and similar crops, have in the past been the lifeblood of the economy of the Canary Islands and the links that these islands have with the UK are symbolised by the creation of Canary Wharf, which was the original recipient of bananas from these islands.

I have always thought that bananas are the real reason behind Brexit. Forget the accusation that “The Brits have never really liked Europe”, it is really bananas that are to blame.

Do you remember all the fuss about ‘bendy bananas’ and the myth that was so lovingly nurtured by the right wing press that straight bananas were being insisted upon by the grandees of Europe? Of course, it was nonsense, and most of the population knew it was nonsense.

Despite this, it was the banana debate and other examples that became the stuff of nonsense that finally manifested itself into a call for the referendum to take Britain out of the European Union that politicians could not avoid any longer.

Bendy bananas or not, how many children and office workers include a banana as part of their lunchtime snack? The UK supermarket chain, Tesco, has upset many of its lunchtime customers recently by significantly increasing the price it charges for individual bananas. The reason for this outrage is that Tesco are now charging for single bananas instead of its usual practice of charging by weight.

This has resulted in the cost of a single banana to have doubled at its Metro and Express stores. Customers were paying around 76 pence per kilogram for their lunchtime banana, which worked out at around 10 to 15 pence depending upon the size of the fruit. The new pricing at 25 pence each is often more than double the original price.

In its defence, the supermarket giant claims that expensive leases on its stores have led to the price increase, which has led to many angry exchanges on social media, leaving Tesco quaking at its very foundations and driving all the customers to Lidl and Aldi, or so we are told.

At the time of writing, Brexit negotiations are in a mess, the Government appears to have lost the plot and the opposition parties appear to be in no position to provide a workable alternative. Of course, the problem will be resolved; they always are, in time. The problem remains of course in how much damage will be done in the interim.

How many banana skins will our leaders slip on before the deal is done? Well, there’s not much that I can do about it, so I’m just off into the garden to pick a nice fresh banana for my lunch. Bananas have a lot to answer for.

If you enjoyed this article, take a look at my websites: http://barriemahoney.com and http://thecanaryislander.com or read my latest book, ‘Living in Spain and the Canary Islands’ (ISBN: 9780995602724). Available in paperback, as well as Kindle editions.

Join me on Facebook: @barrie.mahoney

© Barrie Mahoney

The post Brexit Going Bananas appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

The talk will take place on Thursday 25th of October, 2018 at 11:00 AM in the Town Hall in La Cala of Mijas

The Foreigners Department of The Mijas Town Hall is organizing a Free informative talk in English with experts from Blacktower and Cayet Abogados. The experts will talk about the following subjects:

• Residency and Non-Residency – Advantages and Differences
• When am I considered a resident?
• What are the advantages of residency?
• Does my “residency” card make me a resident?
• What can be done from a residency perspective to prepare myself for Brexit?
• When do I have to do a non-resident tax return opposed to a resident tax return?
• Can I be a resident without paying my taxes here?
• New modification of the Inheritance Law in Andalusia and the new Law on Donations

Anne Hernandez from Brexpats in Spain will give an UPDATE on BREXIT. There will also be an update on municipal matters and the new appointment system at the National Police Office by the Mijas Foreigners Department. After the talk the public will be able to ask their questions to the panel of experts. Finally, there will be a free drink and tapas offered to all the participants of the event.

The post Informative Talk in English appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

A total of 2.1 million UK nationals chose to travel to Greece in 2017, ranking the country seventh in terms of top seven UK travel destinations in the EU, TUI Group’s policyAGENDA for October reveals.

The report, which comes in view of Brexit negotiations and amid growing uncertainty should there be a “no deal” or “hard” outcome, underlines the importance of the UK market as a driver for many EU economies through tourism.

Greece is last on a list of seven EU countries with Spain (14.3 million), France (7.2 million) and Italy (3.1 million) in the top three positions, followed by Portugal, Netherlands and Germany.

According to findings, UK tourists account for more than one-fifth of foreign overnight stays in the EU, with British holidaymakers spending 58 billion euros annually in Southern member states alone.

A reduction in air traffic due to Brexit could shrink the EU’s GDP by up to 210 billion euros, while the ensuing decline in trade, investments and tourism could impact up to 1.3 million jobs in the UK and 1.8 million in the EU.

Indicatively, British tourists spend five out of six holidays abroad in EU countries, with almost one in four opting for Spain and Portugal.

Travel authorities are calling for post-Brexit measures that will address unresolved issues including ensuring European flight operations, citizen mobility, aviation safety, as well as planning reliability and legal security.

GTP press release

The post UK-driven EU Tourism, Greece in Top 7 Travel Spots appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

Pinar de Campoverde will be the setting on Tuesday for a talk on Brexit as well as a day of musical activities and coexistence

Organised by the Department of Foreign residents the 6th Intercultural Conference will get underway at 11:00 in the Municipal Rooms of Pinar de Campoverde. It will be opened by the Mayor Ignacio Ramos and the Councillor for Foreign Citizens, Arantxa Martínez.

European residents will be able to attend meeting with the German Consul Dorothea Von Drahosch at 11.30am, the traditional tasting of paella at 2pm and at 4.30pm an update about Brexit from  the British Consul Sara-Jaime Morrison.

In addition, throughout the day, there will be musical and other activities such as food tastings, exhibitions and a giant paella.

The post Intercultural Conference and Brexit meeting in Pilar de la Horadada appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.