Dear Jacob (as in Rees-Mogg; minister for Brexit)
I have a cunning plan. Why not take the lead and return unilaterally to how things were for travelling EU members prior to Brexit.
Open the UK borders, allow EU citizens to stay for as long as they like, and even allow their pets to step on British soil without all those nonsensical forms and unnecessary jabs they presently require. If they are EU Schengen area nationals; let them roam.
Now that Portugal has fast-tracked British holidaymakers (a clever ploy to get those UK holiday £'s into Portuguese pockets), if the UK was to show a similarly liberal attitude towards workers and holidaymakers coming from mainland Europe, it could only lead to Brussels eventually doing the same, and we could all return to the good-ole-easy-travel-days of The Common Market. Relaxing the regulations could only bring more Euros into Britain; which can't be a bad thing.
If Brussels DIDN'T follow suit, it would only show them to be the pompous, 'foot-stamping', hypocritical, angry people that they are!
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As I'm sure you are aware, those of us who own homes on mainland Europe are no longer allowed to live in those homes for more than 3 months at a time (unless we buy an extension visa, or become foreign residents), but we still have to pay all the annual expenses; plus extra gardening costs to look after our gardens orchards, etc. I have owned homes in France for nearly 50 years, and this is not what I expected of Brexit.
I'm certainly NOT prepared to become one of Macron's Citoyens; although it must be said that many ex-pats seem to have little allegiance to Britain (or have homes in the UK), and would sign away their souls for their love of Brussels.
Please note, Jacob, that although we agreed with much of the Brexit reasoning, we both voted against for very obvious personal reasons.
In general, Brexit has been very good for the UK, our economy is outdoing that of the EU and most of the G7. But on a human level it has made things very difficult for movement across The Channel. You, Jacob, have the opportunity to unilaterally change all that; and in doing so, to force the hands of those big-wigs in Brussels.
Act now; return THEIR FREEDOM, and maybe ours would soon follow suit.
Many thanks in advance; Cro.
You can only live there for three months, yet pay a full year in fees for maintenance and so on? That is so unfair, as is making you pay for extension time or becoming a citizen when you don't want to. If it was me, I would sell the property and stay in England. But you will have to decide for yourself, I know you like it in France.
ReplyDeleteWhat with all this nonsense, and our advancing age, we have been considering selling. Our only problem is that we love it there.
DeleteIf only it were as simple as Do-as-you-would-be-done-by. I have not yet found out what the method is so that only one lot of tax is required to be paid in the country that you (and yours) reside in - most ie 184 days plus!
ReplyDeleteThose ex-pats who took-up the new residency will have to pay their taxes in France on ALL income 'worldwide'. They will possibly also have to tax in the country of origin. I wasn't prepared to do that!
DeleteMy first job after leaving uni involved occasional travel to my employer's R&D labs in Brussels and Paris, pre UK membership of the EU (or Common Market as it then was). I don't recall any problems with travel arrangements - just flew from Newcastle airport. The only time I had a problem was on one trip to Brussels when I brought back some Lab samples (these were unfortunately fine white powders and raised eyebrows going through Newcastle airport customs). One of my work colleagues at this time had a 2 year secondment to work in Brussels, his only problem as I recall was getting his international driving licence documentation.
ReplyDeleteAlso pre Common Market was the boom in package holidays from the UK to France, Spain and Majorca, all with minimal problems all you needed was a British Visitors Passport which you could get at a Post Office .
This was also the time of the Student Railcard - very cheap rail travel across much of mainland Europe including some countries behind the Iron Curtain.
All in all, I think that we've forgotten that simple travel across Europe was not the invention of the EU, they are now just buggering things up.
The main complaint from people I know is that they've lost their 'Freedom of movement'. It all used to be simple and civilised. Why that should have changed just because we've left their expensive club, I really don't know.
DeleteAs far as I can see, Brexit has brought Great Britain no benefits whatsoever. In fact - quite the opposite. Where are the £350 million a week for the NHS that Johnson promised on the side of his campaign bus? Or was it all just a big, fat lie?
ReplyDeleteThe record NHS spending increase of £34 Billion is certainly impressive. First do have another look at the bus, it doesn't say that ALL the savings will be spent on the NHS, and also never believe the nonsense spoken by Labour. They throw mud, in the hope that some will stick.
DeleteCurrently, ability to live in France for only 3 months makes owning property there less than ideal. Easing restrictions like Portugal is a good model.
ReplyDeleteYes, and their initiative should be followed by the UK.
DeleteIt is a hard decision to make, to sell that property. It takes a while to have an established garden and orchard. It is an uncertain time, but my worry would be selling it, only to have rules change to something that is a bit more workable for those in your situation.
ReplyDeleteIf there was change on the horizon, and we could travel again like before, we wouldn't even consider selling.
DeleteI've lived in France for 30+ years, got my residency when Brexit went through and honestly don't see that much has changed. I can still travel freely throughout the EU (Schengen) and since I don't have any desire to stay anywhere else for more than 3 months it doesn't change much for me. I think if you're commited to living in France it hasn't been that much bother really, other than doing the paperwork to get a carte de séjour!
ReplyDeleteAfter 48 years, it's all that unnecessary paperwork and the travel involved that really annoys. If I was to travel the 200 Kms to the prefecture and was told that it was 'closed today' or whatever (as always happens) I might kill. It's safer not to bother. We also have a lovely home here.
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