ARTÍCULO DE CAMILLA HILLIER-FRY: 'EL BREXIT Y SU IMPACTO EN EL CIUDADANO EUROPEO'

Durante el verano el Instituto Complutense de Estudios Internacionales publicó una colección de artículos bajo el título 'Retos contemporáneos a la seguridad de la Unión Europea'. Participó la vice-presidenta de EuroCitizens, Camilla Hillier-Fry con un artículo sobre el impacto del Brexit en el cuidadano europeo. Camilla concluye así: 'El proyecto europeo hizo que 4,5 millones de ciudadanos, hoy residentes en el Reino Unido y la UE-27, cambiaran de país con la legítima esperanza de hacerlo bajo el amparo de los derechos asociados a la ciudadanía y la libertad de movimiento. Ahora sufren una enorme incertidumbre ante la falta de concreción de acuerdos sobre aspectos fundamentales para sus vidas y se enfrentan a un futuro con la amenaza de discriminación jurídica, económica y política. Los ciudadanos de la Unión Europea no se merecen este trato.'

 El artículo:

EUROCITIZENS ORGANISE PROTEST ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE UK GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT ITS OWN CITIZENS

One point of the long vigil  Photo: EuroCitizens

EuroCitizens held a 27 hour vigil to mark the second anniversary of the referendum on UK membership of the European Union. During the vigil, which lasted for 27 hours and coincided with the People’s Vote march in London, British citizens protested at the continued uncertainty for their livelihood, and at the fact that citizens’ rights are clearly not a priority for their government, following the agreement struck between the UK Government and the European Commission last March on the UK´s withdrawal from the European Union.
 
The vigil began with a speech by journalist and writer Giles Tremlett, who shared the despair that many British citizens feel: “Today we are gathered outside the British Embassy, but the sad truth is that many of us do not know whether it is practical for us to remain British citizens. If we apply for Spanish nationality, that means forcing people to renounce British nationality and if that happens, rather than allowing us to continue our lives as before, the UK government will have expelled us from our status as British citizens – and that would cast shame on them.”
 
Members of EuroCitizens delivered a letter for the British government to the Ambassador, which in his absence was received by Tim Hemmings, Deputy Head of Mission. Laura Clyde, a British freelance professional with two children, who handed the letter over, highlighted that “Two years after the referendum, many of our questions about our rights essential for our livelihood, are still unanswered. We are living in a state of anxious uncertainty about what will happen to us. Suddenly, the rights, freedoms, guarantees and privileges afforded to us by the UK’s membership of the EU, and upon which we have based our lives in another EU member state, are under threat: these rights may be taken away from us - without our consent - and with no clear picture of what they will be replaced with."
 
John Carrivick, VicePresident of EuroCitizens, concluded “Today is a sad day when we mourn not only the loss of rights and a way of life but also the inability of the British government to protect its own citizens and a European Union that could not keep faith with its own essence”. 

You can read John's speech in full here:

http://thediplomatinspain.com/en/brexit-crossroads-citizens-europe/ 

More photos:

LA VIGILIA DE EUROCITIZENS ANTE LA EMBAJADA BRITÁNICA

Un grupo de manifestantes ante la embajada  Foto: EuroCitizens

Ciudadanos británicos en España celebraron una vigilia en el segundo aniversario del referéndum sobre el Brexit. Durante la vigilia, que duró 27 horas y coincidió con la marcha “People’s Vote” en Londres, protestaron contra la incertidumbre que perjudica sus vidas y la probable pérdida de sus derechos en el borrador del Acuerdo de Salida entre el RU y la UE, publicado en marzo de 2018.
La vigilia empezó con un discurso del periodista y escritor Giles Tremlett, quien compartió la desesperación que sienten muchos británicos “Hoy nos hemos reunido delante de la Embajada Británica, pero la triste verdad es que muchos no sabemos si tiene sentido práctico seguir siendo ciudadanos británicos. Si solicitamos la nacionalidad española, nos obliga a renunciar la británica y en ese caso, en vez de poder mantener nuestras vidas como antes, el gobierno británico nos habrá “expulsado” como ciudadanos de su país, y eso es vergonzoso para un gobierno”.
Miembros de EuroCitizens, una asociación que defiende los derechos de británicos en España y de europeos en el Reino Unido, entregó una carta dirigida al gobierno británico a su embajador en España, representado por Tim Hemmings, Ministro Consejero de la Embajada. Laura Clyde, una profesional autónoma con dos hijos, señaló “Dos años después del referéndum, muchas de las preguntas sobre nuestros derechos siguen sin respuesta. Vivimos con gran incertidumbre y ansiedad respecto a qué será de nosotros. Los derechos, libertades, garantías y privilegios que supone la ciudadanía europea,  y bajo cuyo amparo hemos hecho nuestras vidas en otro Estado Miembro de la UE, se ven amenazados. Podemos perder estos derechos – sin haber podido participar en el referéndum – y no hay claridad respecto a nuestra situación futura.”
John Carrivick, VicePresidente de EuroCitizens, concluyó “Hoy es un día triste, cuando lamentamos no solo la pérdida de nuestros derechos y un modo de vivir, sino también la incapacidad, tanto del gobierno británico de proteger a sus propios ciudadanos, como la de la Unión Europea a mantenerse fiel a su propia esencia.”

http://thediplomatinspain.com/brexit-o-la-encrucijada-de-la-europa-de-los-ciudadanos/

ALL-NIGHT VIGIL FOR CITIZENS' RIGHTS IN MADRID

From 12 noon on Friday 22 June until 3pm on Saturday 23 June, EuroCitizens will be organising a vigil below the British Embassy in Madrid (near Torre Espacio, Castellana 259) to ask the UK government to defend our citizens' rights which are under threat in the draft Withdrawal Agreement between the EU and the UK (freedom of movement, professional qualifications, family reunification, economic rights, political rights). 

Permission for the vigil has been applied for and the protest will at all times be good-humoured and well-mannered. We know that we are not going to get huge crowds, but we would like to have as many people as possible throughout the 27 hours of the vigil to show the strength of feeling of UKinEU citizens who have already suffered nearly two years of uncertainty and face losing key rights.

You can sign up for shifts at the vigil here:

https://doodle.com/poll/6u5z6mdh2s5fi2yz#table

Here is a rough timetable of events:

Friday 22 June

12 noon - demo begins

13.30 - speech by journalist and writer Giles Tremlett

14:00 - letter/s of protest to be presented to the Ambassador 

14:00 - 20:00: demonstration continues with core presence

20:00 -  'Protest Picnic/Citizens' Rights supper' with speeches by (tbc) and music. People bring their own food.

12:00 - All-night vigil begins, continuing to start of events the next day.

Saturday 23 June

12 noon - full demo starts again with video connection with the rally in London / possible link-up with groups in other countries.

2pm - speech by (tbc)

3pm - End of vigil, possible laying of a wreath symbolising the death of UKinEU citizens' rights

We hope to get musicians to come along at the high points. If you know any (or are one yourself) or would like to volunteer to help the vigil team, get in touch with Laura Clyde at: citizensrightsvigilmadrid@gmail

William Clarke has organised a T-shirt for the vigil which you can order here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfWIa6Nb8GhJ2jIkEjBGESBAAI3aP59MK5hdeSyQXSSce5koA/viewform?c=0&w=1

Some of us will be in London at the demonstration for a People's Vote on Saturday 23 when we will march with British in Europe for Citizens' Rights (this was organised a while back). Get in touch with me at eurocitizens2016@gmail.com if you can be there - and we will arrange to meet up.

Please sign up for the vigil and share with as many friends and colleagues as possible.

EUROCITIZENS ROUND TABLE: WE ARE TIRED OF BEING USED AS BARGAINING CHIPS IN THE BREXIT NEGOTIATIONS

Speakers: Alex Luzárraga (Amadeus), Michael Harris (EuroCitizens), Elena Conde (UCM), Jochen Müller (European Commission), José Domingo Roselló (UGT), Camilla Hillier-Fry (EuroCitizens), Andy Mackay (British Council) Silvia González (the3million), Mark Kitcatt (IMPALA), Tom Morgan (European Parliament).

On Wednesday, 23 May EuroCitizens organised a round table about the human cost of Brexit on UK and Spanish citizens living respectively in Spain and the UK, in the Madrid offices of the European parliament. 310,000 UK citizens in Spain and over 100,000 Spanish citizens in the UK are still being used as bargaining chips in the BREXIT negotiations. With less than a year to go, UK residents in Spain still have no confirmed rights of free movement within Europe, no rights to provide services across borders, and uncertain recognition of their professional and academic qualifications. For Spanish and UK citizens resident in each other's country, rights of family reunion, dependents and many other similar issues remain unresolved. There is very little time left and politicians on both sides seem blind to the suffering they are causing for over four million people who are living with enormous uncertainty and a bleak future with greatly diminished rights.

Photos of the event:  https://www.facebook.com/pg/EuroCitizensSpain/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1783399285069160








Full report:

COLOQUIO DE EUROCITIZENS: 'EL COSTE HUMANO DEL BREXIT - LAS IMPLICACIONES PARA LOS CIUDADANOS ESPAÑOLES Y BRITÁNICOS'

La salida del Reino Unido de la Unión Europea el próximo 29 de marzo cambiará la vida de muchas personas, especialmente los 200.000 españoles en Gran Bretaña y los 300.000 británicos en España. El actual acuerdo de salida entre la UE y el RU reducirá de forma preocupante los derechos de ambos colectivos y pondrá en riesgo el futuro de muchas personas. El Brexit también afectará la vida de otros ciudadanos que no han ejercido sus derechos de libre circulación. Habrá importantes implicaciones para el sector educativo, para estudiantes, profesores e investigadores. El fin del libre movimiento de personas entre ambos países tendrá un impacto negativo tanto para las empresas como los trabajadores que será especialmente grave para los autónomos y las industrias creativas.

El acto que organiza EuroCitizens pretende analizar y debatir estas cuestiones. Michael Harris (EuroCitizens/British in Europe) y Silvia González (the3million) comentarán la situación del medio millón de ciudadanos más afectados. Después habrá una mesa redonda con personas de distintos ámbitos profesionales:  Alex Luzárraga, vicepresidente de estrategia corporativa Amadeus; Andy Mackay, director, British Council en España; Elena Conde, profesora titular en derecho internacional público, Universidad Complutense de Madrid; José Domingo, economista del gabinete técnico confederal de la UGT; Mark Kitcatt, presidente de IMPALA (asociación europea de compañías fonográficas independientes).

Queda poco tiempo por llegar a un acuerdo definitivo de salida y concretar las líneas generales de la relación entre el Reino Unido y la UE-27. Es esencial que no se olividen las personas, especialmente los jóvenes, entre los interminables debates sobre las cuotas de pesca y los aranceles. Hay que hacer todo lo posible para reducir el coste humano del Brexit.


Dónde: la Sede del Parlamento Europeo en España, Paseo de la Castellana, 46, Metro Rubén Darío  Cómo llegar

Cuándo: 18-20 horas el miércoles 23 de mayo. Es aconsejable llegar antes de las seis.

Inscripción: Debes inscribirte en el siguiente enlace:  https://formstack.io/2B0FE

Aforo limitado. Ninguna persona será admitida sin haberse inscrito o sin la documentación requerida.

Correo: Eurocitizens2016@gmail.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EuroCitizens­
Twitter: @EuroCitizens99
Blog: Eurocitizens2020.blogspot.com.es

MEETING WITH BRITISH CONSUL, SARAH-JANE MORRIS: WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR BRITONS IN SPAIN?

Sarah-Jane Morris talking to EuroCitizens

On 26 April, EuroCitizens organised an information session in Madrid with the British Consul, Sarah-Jane Morris. The objective was to investigate where we are on citizens’ rights and how we can safeguard our own situations. EuroCitizens vice-chair, Camilla Hillier-Fry, introduced the meeting and updated members on our lobbying activities. Chair, Michael Harris, also a member of the British in Europe steering group, outlined some of the consequences of the current agreement between the EU and the UK, such as lack of freedom of movement and economic rights in the EU-27 for UKinEU. He was critical of government messaging and asked people to channel their anger and frustration into fighting for citizens’ rights. Sarah-Jane Morris clarified points on the agreement and the transition period before making practical suggestions. For most of the session, she answered questions from the floor about a variety of concerns. The meeting was well attended and the consensus seemed to be that it was helpful. EuroCitizens would like to thank Sarah-Jane Morris for coming.

See a summary of what came out of the meeting: