miércoles, 24 de enero de 2024

THE AMBASSADOR'S NEW YEAR'S MESSAGE: GREEN CARDS, PENSIONS, AND OUR VOTING RIGHTS

 

 
As an organisation, EuroCitizens received a New Year's message from the British Ambassador, Hugh Elliott.  The substantive points highlighted by the Ambassador are:


 1. An ‘exchange’ closely monitored in 2023 was that of the Green Certificate. This document remains a valid way to prove Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary status and therefore, the right to work and reside in Spain. For the most part, it is recognised as such, but in response to some reports of non-recognition, we have created this letter on the Living In Guide to explain its validity, pointing to relevant Spanish Government guidance, which we hope will help. That said, the best and most reliable way to prove your rights under the Withdrawal Agreement is with the TIE. That’s why the Embassy strongly advise all British citizens in Spain to get one as, put simply, it will just make life easier. We are pleased that over 200,000 British people (a growing number) do now have a TIE, but we still have a way to go in encouraging take up. 

 

2. The Embassy also hope to make progress on pensions and healthcare matters in 2024. On the former, we believe that many British people living here may be entitled to a Spanish state pension without knowing it. Even those who may have only worked for one year in Spain could be eligible and, if they have worked in other EU countries as well, could potentially combine Spanish social security contributions with those from other countries. As for healthcare, many British citizens in Spain have not yet registered with the Spanish public health system and therefore, are missing out on their entitlement to receive basic state services for free. This means that they could be charged privately for their healthcare, potentially resulting in unnecessary and expensive bills. It is also important that British residents in Spain receiving UK-funded healthcare keep the NHS Business Services Authority updated on their circumstances and contact information. The NHSBSA will be engaging more proactively with British citizens in Spain and are contactable through OHS.S1emailupdate@nhsbsa.nhs.uk.

 

3. The Ambassador is  pleased to say that new legislation has come into force to enable British citizens living abroad to vote in UK general elections, regardless of how long they’ve been living outside the UK. This law removes the previous 15-year time limit and I know will be very welcome news for many British people in Spain. The Embassy has updated our Living in Guide accordingly and are calling on partner to help us spread the word, so British people can get registered and be ready to cast a ballot when the time comes.


Happy New Year!


lunes, 27 de noviembre de 2023

EUROCITIZENS HOLDS ITS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2023

 


On Friday 24th of November, EuroCitizens held its ‘asamblea annual’ to celebrate our seventh year as an official Spanish association. We discussed key matters affecting Britons in Spain covered by the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and our continuing membership of the coalition British in Europe – as well as re-electing the current committee under chair Nigel Aston.

 

Nigel gave us an update of recent activity of BiE: a meeting with the undersecretary of state for Europe, meetings with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, appearances at the House of Lords European Committee and the Specialised Committee for Citizens’ Rights covering the Withdrawal Agreement (WA). Nigel reported that the Spanish government has in general done a good job for Britons in Spain with the rollout of the special ID card (TIE) for those covered by the WA.

 

There is good news on ‘Votes For Life’, our right to continue voting in UK elections after living fifteen years abroad. It is hoped that this will be in place before the next general election, which will happen sometime in 2024. We discussed ways of proving our previous residence, in the place in the UK where we will be able to vote. As well as documentary proof we can also be obtain proof by the attestation of another UK voter. We will publish the information when the details have been confirmed by the UK government and we are pressing for a major publicity campaign.

 

The UK Embassy in Spain no longer has a dedicated person for citizens’ rights, and we are now dealing with the head of the political department. The main issues are institutions, private and public, not accepting the validity of the green residence documents (which do remain valid). However, due to the explicit mention of the protection of the WA, EuroCitizens recommends that we all get the new TIE. Unnecessary passport stamping is still happening at some airports (including passports of TIE holders but the Spanish government has assured us that this does not affect our residence status. There have been some examples of Britons, covered by the WA, affected by Spanish Defence Ministry restrictions about buying properties near military bases. The bilateral agreement on driving licences is now in place and Britons must exchange them after six months residence in Spain.

 

We discussed the new visa-waiver schemes due to come out, possibly next year: ETA (UK), ETIAS (EU). Again, we will publish information when the conditions for both the UK and EU schemes are clear. And, again, we are pressing for major official publicity campaigns.

 

The litigation of Joshua Silver, about the loss of European citizenship for UK nationals, has been rejected by the Court of Justice of the EU and has reached the final level – The European Court of Human Rights, which unfortunately has no capacity to legally enforce its decisions.

 

Margaret Hauschild attended the recent EU summit for lawyers where it was made clear that the UK is very much a Third Country. This could complicate civil law issues like divorce and inheritance for Britons in Spain, even if covered by the Withdrawal Agreement.

 

Nick Green commented on the application of British in Europe for a grant from the UE programme Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV). This is not to cover BiE or Eurocitizens running costs but will enable the training of two members in advocacy for citizens’ rights – for Britons in Spain covered by the Withdrawal Agreement. They will then be able to train members of EuroCitizens and other associations in Spain, to help Britons realise what rights we hold and how we can defend them. This is very important as Britons in Europe currently receive none of the protection of Europeans in the UK who are covered by the Independent Monitoring Agency – a body which ensures the correct implementation of rights established by the Withdrawal Agreement. Unfortunately, we anticipate that issues impacting UK citizens in the EU will last many years into the future.

 

The EuroCitizens committee was re-elected with one small change. Nick Green is now a vice-chair in place of Mike Harris who will continue as a ‘vocal’ in charge of the blog and email.


domingo, 7 de mayo de 2023

UPDATE: CHECKING YOU ARE ON THE ELECTORAL ROLL AND POSTAL VOTING FOR THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS 28/05/23



As you may well know, the Spanish local and regional elections will be held on Sunday, 28th of May 2023. 

As UK citizens covered by the EU Withdrawal Agreement, we can vote in the municipal elections (not regionals). However, in order to exercise this right we must have registered ourselves on the electoral roll between 1 December and 15 January (see previous posts below).

If you did register to vote within that period, you can consult the following website:

https://sede.ine.gob.es/ss/Satellite?c=SETramite_C&cid=1254734728608&lang=es_ES&p=1254734719739&pagename=SedeElectronica%2FSELayout

If you are on the electoral roll but will be away from your place of residence on 28 May, you can apply for a postal vote before 18 May.

https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/serviciosdeprensa/notasprensa/interior/Paginas/2023/040423-voto-por-correo-elecciones-espana.aspx


References:

1. EuroCitizens November 2022: Registering to vote

https://eurocitizens2020.blogspot.com/2022/11/an-update-on-registering-to-vote-in.html

2. Eurocitizens December 2022: Online registration


3. Voting rights for UK citizens in Spain covered by the Withdrawal Agreement:


martes, 20 de diciembre de 2022

ONLINE APPLICATIONS TO REGISTER YOUR VOTE FOR THE SPANISH MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN MAY

 


Last month we provided information about voter registration for UK citizens in Spain for May's municipal elections. Here we look at how to make an online application after receiving your letter from the Oficina de Censo Electoral.

Steps to follow: 

1. Enter this website: https://sede.ine.gob.es

2. Place the cursor over the Trámites tab and a drop-down menu will appear.

3. Place the cursor over Trámites de Censo Electoral and a new drop-down menu will appear.

4. Inside the second drop-down menu, click on  Inscripción en el Censo Electoral de Extranjeros Residentes en España de ciudadanos nacionales de países con Acuerdos.

5. In the options show on the right-hand side of the page, click on Presentación de la solicitud.

6. In the options shown on the right-hand side, click on your preferred option (Access with your PIN if registered or simply with your NIF and the CTT code shown at the end of Point 1 in your letter).

7. Supply your PIN or NIF+CTT.

If you have not yet received a letter from the Oficina de Censo Electoral:

First: Follow steps 1-6 inclusive

Then:  Click on the link at the end of Si no posee certificado digital ni Cl@ve ni ha recibido la CTT, deberá descargar el impreso de solicitud y seguir sus instrucciones.  pulse aquí (found at the end of the first paragraph.)

A form will appear. Complete the form and follow the instructions.

Through the post

If you prefer not to apply online, you can also complete and sign the attached self-addressed form  and send it postage free by normal mail.

miércoles, 23 de noviembre de 2022

AN UPDATE ON REGISTERING TO VOTE IN NEXT MAY'S LOCAL ELECTIONS IN SPAIN


Here's an update on voting (or standing as a candidate) in Spanish local elections next May. 

The latest information is from the UK Embassy's Living In Spain page:

 

Local elections

You can vote and stand in local elections in Spain once you have been resident for 3 years. To do so, you must:

  • be registered on the municipal register where you live (padrón municipal)
  • confirm your registration on the electoral roll (censo electoral), within the dates set by the electoral authorities before each election

You cannot register on the electoral roll at other times. You must re-register on the electoral roll before each local election.

To stand as a local election candidate, read Spanish organic law 5/1985 (in Spanish) or consult with your local Oficina del Censo Electoral.


Voting and standing in the local elections in May 2023

If you wish to participate in the next local elections, check you are correctly registered on the municipal register (padrón).

The Electoral Census Office (Oficina del Censo Electoral) will write to UK nationals who, according to the relevant databases, have the right to vote. They are due to send these letters at the end of November 2022.

If you receive a letter, follow the instructions to complete your registration either by post or online. If you do not receive a letter but believe you meet the requirements to vote, contact your town hall. They can inform you of the local process to follow to register on the electoral roll.

To vote in the local elections in May 2023, you must register on the electoral roll between 1 December 2022 and 15 January 2023.

jueves, 10 de noviembre de 2022

TRAVELLING TO OTHER EU COUNTRIES WITH YOUR "CERTIFICADO DE REGISTRO DE CIUDADANO DE LA UNIÓN EUROPEA (green A4 or card)

Here is some updated advice (10/11/22) on travelling to other countries in the European Union with your (still valid) "certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Unión Europea (green A4 or green card)

You will remember that while Spain, the UK and the EU all recommend swapping your Green registration certificate for the new TIE which identifies you as a beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement, this is not compulsory. The Green certificate remains in force for those who choose not to do so. Nevertheless, there have been some instances of British citizens not having their certificates recognised at the border of some EU states. We have approached the EU about this and have learned the following:

“…a specimen of the Spanish registration certificate of EU citizens is included in Annex 43 of the "Practical Handbook for Border Guards" (PHBG). This document being not published, we unfortunately cannot provide a link.

 

Spain has not notified the title of the document for its inclusion in Annex 22 of the PHBG, which lists all residence permits and documents with equivalent effect issued by the Member States. Inclusion in both Annexes 43 and 22 of the PHBG being necessary under Schengen rules, the Commission has pointed out to Spain that it should notify the title for inclusion in Annex 22 of the PHBG. However, this has not been done so far.

 

As a consequence, the Commission is aware that UK nationals who are Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries in Spain and who travel inside the Schengen area based on a previously issued free movement registration certificate may experience difficulties in other Schengen States.”

 

What this means in practice is that if a border guard checks both Annexes (22 and 43) they will find the certificate included under Annex 43 although not under 22. However, if the guard checks Annex 22 only, they will not find it mentioned. Consequently, if  you encounter problems, you should ask the border guard to check Annex 43 as well.

If you do have any problems when travelling with your green EU card, please write to us at eurocitizens2016@gmail.com and tell us all about it.

lunes, 24 de octubre de 2022

REGISTERING TO VOTE IN NEXT YEAR'S SPANISH MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS


At the AGM of EuroCitizens on 21 October, there was some discussion of the upcoming municipal elections (May 2023) in Spain. 

In line with the bi-lateral agreement between Spain and the UK these are the requirements for you to vote:

- to be a UK citizen formally resident in Spain and covered by the Withdrawal Agreement (either with a green EU card or the TIE with mention of the WA)

- to be registered on the municipal "Padrón" 

-to register with the Spanish electoral authority. We understand that the registration period will be from 1 December 2022 to 31 January 2023.

For the purposes of the elections, UK citizens with this entitlement are de facto EU citizens. 

See links to advice from the UK embassy and the Spanish government.



https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-spain#voting