No Deal Brexit - Brits Are Safe
4th February 2019
It is impossible to say with any certainty what will happen if parliament rejects the deal or if a no deal Brexit is agreed. But what can be assured is that Spain-based Britons will have “their rights preserved whatever the scenario”, as long as Spaniard’s are given the same treatment in the UK, says Sanchez at the annual end-of-year news conference.
Around 300,000 Brits reside in Spain and it is currently the number one destination for Europeans to retire too, reports Yahoo News. Since the announcement of the UK referendum results, many British expats in Spain have felt uneasy about what exactly will happen to their rights and properties once the UK leaves the EU. At the moment it is in both the UK and Spain’s interest to come to an agreement, securing the rights of its citizens residing in either country (Spaniards living in Britain and Brits living in Spain).
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, there are already plans in place to keep the skies open and people moving between countries – the European Commission’s ‘no-deal contingency action plan’ includes measures to temporarily ensure air services between the UK and the EU resume.
The future of British expats in Spain should become a little clearer by February when Sanchez presents a law outlining the rights of citizens in respective countries and measures in place to protect bilateral commercial relations. Until then Brits must continue to take a sit and wait approach, albeit with some reassurance that the Spanish Prime Minister is in no hurry to change the relationship it has with the UK, as long as foreigners rights are reciprocated.
Published by David
