UK NATIONALS IN MADRID UNITE TO DEFEND THEIR EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS

First public meeting of EuroCitizens: Madrid 29/11/16    Photo: EuroCitizens

On Tuesday 29 November, around a hundred people attended the presentation of EuroCitizens in a packed venue in central Madrid. The new group will be working to defend the EU citizenship rights of UK nationals in Spain. As well as discussing the aims of the group, there was a question and answer session on the impact of Brexit on British expats with the British consul in Madrid, Sarah-Jane Morris.
  
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PETITION: DUAL NATIONALITY FOR BRITONS WHO HAVE RESIDED IN SPAIN FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS

William Chislett talking at EuroCitizens' meeting

On 29 November, at the first public meeting of EuroCitizens, journalist and researcher William Chislett gave a short talk about his petition to the Spanish Government for dual nationality for Britons residing in Spain. Below is the text of his speech. If you are interested in signing the petition, go to: 

https://www.change.org/p/dual-nationality-for-brits-who-have-resided-in-spain-for-more-than-10-years

William's speech:

FIRST PUBLIC EVENT OF EUROCITIZENS: 29/11 CENTRO GALLEGO, MADRID

How is Brexit going to affect me as a UK national in Spain? What scenarios could guarantee my current rights as a European citizen? What can we do to fight for our futures? What is EuroCitizens and what does the group aim to do? We will deal with all these questions and more tomorrow evening (Tuesday 29 November, 19,00) in the Centro Gallego in Madrid. Members of EuroCitizens will talk about the group's objectives and plans. The British Consul, Sarah-Jane Morris will discuss the possible impact of Brexit on UK nationals. The journalist and researcher, William Chislett, will talk about a petition for dual national for Britons in Spain. Then you will have the chance to mention your concerns and ask questions. We hope that you can come!

WHAT YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT BREXIT, BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK...

REFERENCES THAT MIGHT BE USEFUL, INTERESTING…

PETITIONS 
(the British Government will respond to a petition of 10,000 signatures and with 100,000, the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament)
1  https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/150220      We require any BRexit deal preserves UK access to EU collaborative R&D programs.
2  https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/171148    A Referendum on whether the UK Government negotiates 'soft' or 'hard' Brexit
3   https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/166833   Preserve all existing rights of UK citizens to Freedom of Movement in the EU
4  https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/133540  Let Parliament decide whether or not we remain a member of the European Union
5  https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/135700  Keep the Free Movement of People Between the UK and the EU
6  https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/161997  On BREXIT British expatriates should retain their healthcare within the EU
7  https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/161717  Maintain Pension increases for British pensioners living in the EU.
8 https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/159977  Recognise Brexit is too costly, cancel and prioritise spending on the NHS
9  https://www.change.org/p/uk-government-and-parliament-please-let-me-vote  Please let me vote- loss of fundamental voting right
10  https://www.change.org/p/rt-hon-david-cameron-mp-give-us-our-votes-back-let-all-british-citizens-living-in-the-eu-vote-in-the-eu-referendum-3  Give us our votes back! Let all British citizens living in the EU vote in the EU referendum.
11  https://www.change.org/p/dual-nationality-for-brits-who-have-resided-in-spain-for-more-than-10-years  Dual nationality for Brits who have resided in Spain for more than 10 years
12  https://www.change.org/p/eu-petition-urge-the-eu-to-require-a-stronger-mandate-for-brexit-from-the-uk-government?tk=JW4hhjM--qnjPHSxZ1z52AtKjCICCojy4TQes_W8F64&utm_source=supporter_signature_milestone_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=supporter_signatures_25000&utm_term=supporter_signature_milestone_email  Urge the EU to require a stronger mandate for Brexit from the UK Government
13  https://www.change.org/p/gobierno-de-espa%C3%B1a-doble-nacionalidad-para-brit%C3%A1nicos-con-mas-de-diez-a%C3%B1os-de-residencia-en-espa%C3%B1a  For dual nationality
14  https://www.change.org/p/stop-article-50-from-being-invoked-last-and-only-option-to-stop-brexit?recruiter=38850336&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_term=mob-sm-share_petition-no_msg    Stop Article 50 from being invoked. Last and ONLY option to stop Brexit.
15  https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/associate-citizenship-of-the-eu-for-those-who-voted-to-remain  Associate membership of EU for those who voted to remain

BLOGS
1  https://eurocitizens2020.blogspot.com.es/  OUR BLOG
2  https://votes-for-expat-brits-blog.com/   Campaign for vote  for expat Brits
3  http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.com.es/2014/05/what-happens-to-british-expatriates-if.html  EU Law Analysis
4  http://eu-rope.ideasoneurope.eu/2015/10/22/many-affected-eu-referendum-will-vote/   Former BBC investigative journalist, Jon Danzig, on Brexit and how opportunites have been lost as dates come closer to March 2017
5  http://britsineurope.org/congratulations-on-your-umbrella-organisation-website/  Brits in Europe
6  http://www.euroweeklynews.com/3.0.15/news/on-euro-weekly-news/costa-del-sol-malaga/141234-informative-talk-organised-by-brexpats-in-spain Brexpats in Spain - Mijas
7 http://www.fairdealforexpats.com/   strong campaigning group based in France
8  http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexit/  LSE blog
9  http://one-europe.info/about  European citizens volunteer organisation
10 www.survivefrance.com  Biarritz-based British expat’s blog covering wide range of topics
11 http://europeanmovement.eu/   PROMOTING emu, security, free movement and transparency in Europe
12 http://euromove.org.uk/   coordinating several grassroots campaigns, supporting our place in Europe post referendum

MEDIA/PRESS
1  http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-36159009  EU Referendum: Britons abroad lose vote legal bid – Shindler and MacLennan
2  http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20161108-the-expats-stranded-by-brexit  The expats who don’t want to come home
3  http://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/clive-bull/how-you-could-keep-eu-citizenship-after-brexit/   on how to keep EU citizenship after Brexit
4  http://economia.elpais.com/economia/2016/11/17/actualidad/1479383174_186035.html  3 out of 10 British companies will reduce investment in Spain
5  https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/nov/01/expats-deserve-mps  Give Brits on Costa del Sol their own MP in Westminster
6  http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-37909299  Scottish govt seeks EU negotiations
7  https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/nov/21/sir-richard-branson-funding-new-campaign-group-fighting-brexit  Branson funding antiBrexit campaign
8  www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/theresa-may-article-50_uk_581c5bcbe4b0c2e24aaf35b1?cv4h9835bcqi9evcxr     Theresa May article from Huff Post
9  http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/04/world/europe/uk-brexit-vote-parliament.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share  High Court ruling on Article 50

ACADEMIA
1  http://ukandeu.ac.uk/british-citizens-or-eu-citizens-the-brexit-referendum-and-british-expats/ Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and based at King’s College London, the Initiative will explore the key aspects of UK and EU dynamics.
2  http://www.politico.eu/article/lse-foreign-academics-barred-from-advising-uk-on-brexit/  Foreign academics barred from advising on Brexit
3  http://www.ucml.ac.uk/events/06-01-17.html  University council of modern languages event in January 2017
4  http://studentsforeurope.org/author/tim-verboven/   Students for Europe

UK GOVERNMENT INFORMATION
1  https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/558280/overseas_electors_policy_statement.pdf   A democracy that works for everyone: British citizens overseas
2  file:///C:/Users/susanj/Downloads/SN05923.pdf  Cabinet Briefing Paper on Overseas Brits and vote

EU
1 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/atyourservice/en/displayFtu.html?ftuId=FTU_2.1.3.html  Fact sheet on free movement of persons

OMBUDSMAN UK
1 https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-rights/brexit/brexit/  How to file complaint on grounds of discrimination?

OTHER
1  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bZv3pSaLtY  Bertrand Russell talking in 1959
2  http://parnellacademy.com/?page_id=5872&lang=en  Richard Parnell on the Costa del Sol offering Spanish classes to Brexpats
3  http://www.charliechaplin.com/en/synopsis/articles/29-The-Great-Dictator-s-Speech The Great Dictator Speech

29/11: PRESENTATION OF EUROCITIZENS IN MADRID

On 29 November (19h Centro Gallego, Madrid) we will present our new association, EuroCitizens. We will explain our aims and how we hope to defend the EU citizenship rights of both UK nationals in Spain and Spanish citizens in Britain. Sarah-Jane Morris, British Consul in Madrid, will be attending and will talk about the possible impact of Brexit on British citizens here. We hope that you can come. Please share the information with family, friends and colleagues.

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