By Euro Weekly News Media • Published: 01 Mar 2016 • 15:30
David Cameron (pictured with Mariano Rajoy): British government has declared the agreement with the EU was a masterstroke.
NOW that the British government has declared that the Cameron agreement with the EU was a masterstroke, and that he is totally supportive of the country remaining within the European club, the statements and counter statements have started.
A government sponsored report issued so quickly that it disproves the concept that civil servants spend all of their time drinking tea and dreaming of knighthoods, has given plenty of ammunition to both sides of the argument.
The basic concept of the report is that ‘Article 50’ of the Treaty on European Union says that any Member State may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements, and that it has two years to negotiate an alternative relationship with Brussels and its 27 members.
2 million is the number of expats estimated to be living in the EU of which a large number would be eligible to vote.
PERHAPS unsurprisingly, Lord Mandelson, former Trade Commissioner who has always been pro-EU, has confirmed his belief that an exit would be bad for the economy as it is likely Britain would lose preferential trading status around the world. Last month, the G20 states meeting in China supported David Cameron and his anti-Brexit stance.
What the report goes on to say is that the average time to negotiate trade agreements and the like can be more than eight years, and it concludes that it would take at least 10 years before all agreements could be signed with all parties, but if there are only two years to negotiate then expats living and working within the EU could find themselves in serious difficulty.
This gave David Lidington, the Europe minister, the chance to warn that a British exit from the bloc would be a “massive” risk and “everything we take for granted about access to the single market” would be in question.
He said: “Trade deals between the EU and other countries and bilateral trade deals of any type normally take six, seven, eight years and counting. Everything we take for granted about access to the single market – trade taking place without customs checks or paperwork at national frontiers, the right of British citizens to go and live in Spain or France – those would all be up in the air. It is massive. It is massive what is at risk”.
Those in favour of the Brexit have responded angrily to both the report and the minister’s comments, which they dismiss as speculation and scaremongering.
The debate will continue on a daily basis and it is up to each person allowed to vote to decide what they want to achieve from the referendum, and which side has the most compelling and believable argument by June 23.
Share this story
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don't already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Share your story with us by emailing newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com, by calling +34 951 38 61 61 or by messaging our Facebook page www.facebook.com/EuroWeeklyNews
Yes but they would all say that wouldn’t they!
I seen the COE ‘I think’ of Jaguar being interviewed by SKY, he was asked if they would divert investment from the UK if the UK left the EU and he said yes! Now I am not a COE of a massive company but: They would direct investment from the UK, why would he say that at this time? Would the answer from someone who was not trying to influence the vote not be: Well it is difficult to say, we would need to see if there where any advantages in doing that before we took a decision as important as that’ or something similar!
I really do hope for the sake of the British people and voters that there is a scope of clear information laid out in layman’s terms for the public to take in and think about before the vote. No matter what way DC or the EU wants this to go it is his duty to put something forward that is not bias so that the ordinary person can make their minds up with rational thinking… or at least have the un bias information there to do so anyway.
go on Migration Watch website which explains that expats are protected by the 1969 Vienna Convention and Human Rights legislation and will retain residency rights whether the UK leave the EU or not
I am getting a bit fed up with all this in/out of the euCameron is doing the same as blair an about turnotiginally it was all OUT now to stay in.Give it a rest and lets see what happenskay
UK EXPATS! HOW TO VOTE IN THE REFERENDUM The British governmentâÂÂs first official report into the impact of a future Brexit has revealed that the rights of British expats in France and other parts of the EU will no longer be guaranteed.
Some 300,000 British expats live in France and 2.2 million are thought to be living in the EU. Their votes could easily sway the final result of the Referendum – but expats must register to vote now.
So if you wish to record your vote in the Referendum. If you prefer that the UK remains in the EU, you can do so now wherever you live in Europe. If you live in France for example and wish to maintain your place in the French Health Scheme you MUST register your wish to vote asap and then vote for the UK to remain in Europe.
Similarly, wherever you live in Europe, you must register to vote via the UK GOV. web site. You can complete the form on-line or receive it via normal mail.
PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH ANY UK EXPATS YOU KNOW LIVING IN A COUNTRY IN EUROPE – as soon as possible. This is your way to eradicate the threat to your future security and happiness.
Leaving the EU will not solve the so-called “immigration problem” because without a British National ID system the non-British cannot be identified, let alone removed.
British expats will flock home while illegals will remain making the “too many immigrants” problems even worse. The argument against immigrants is only a racist one without the means to identify who is who.
Ian
Yes British people here who can vote should vote, but do not take in this scaremongering propaganda without listening to the other side because this rubbish was created by a government run by a PM who wants us to stay in the EU and is intent in getting you to vote to stay in any way he can so they will only push you towards voting as they want!
So just hang back on your decision making, talk to others including your family members and then wait until everything is laid out on the table first as you will find that your rights in Spain will not be affected by an out vote when you see all the information.
It every ex pats democratic right to vote if they are in a position to vote but make sure you vote with you head and not as a scared stiff citizen as the DC and this person is trying to make you vote because yes, the future to your security and happiness and the rest of your families is at stake here.
Good luck 😉
Can you show us where you get this information from Ian!
I hope all the ex-pats living in Spain (and elsewhere) register to vote in the upcoming EU referendum. In these enlightened days of international information exchange, I’m sure the relevant fiscal authorities will be most interested!
Comments are closed.
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Download our media pack in either English or Spanish.