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Globalization and politics

Santiago Saez Moreno
Journalist
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piqer: Santiago Saez Moreno
Saturday, 11 March 2017

Brexit From The Eyes Of An Expat In Spain

The British population in Spain could form a medium-sized city. Some 300,000 Britons live in the Southern European country, and that's the largest British population anywhere in the EU. Around the same population of Spaniards reside in the UK. Both groups will lose a number of rights as soon as Britain leaves the EU. 

But what rights will they lose?

Uncertainty reigns. That much shines through in this article by Simon Hunter, editor at the English edition of El País. Negotiations between May's government and Brussels haven't kicked off yet, and there are some reasons for optimism, as Downing Street has pledged to protect both the rights of EU nationals already in the UK and Britons abroad.

However, May hasn't hid her tough stance on the issue. She has already coined mottos such as "Brexit means Brexit" and "no deal is better than a bad deal".

Again, that is a deal Madrid would be happy to reach. Britain is Spain's first trade partner in the EU and the consequences of Brexit for Spanish economy will be dire. The fall of the pound has already hit the country's tourism. Also, I get Rajoy is not looking forward to having 300,000 new people registering as unemployed.

One thing is clear: Without some degree of free movement, the EU won't cut any good deal to London. And then British expats in Spain would probably lose more than the right to vote in local elections.

I sympathise with Hunter. After all, I've been a Spanish expat in the UK for years. And I can tell that, if I was still there, I could also sign his opening quote:

For this journalist, as is the case, no doubt, for many other long-term British residents of Spain, one of the first thoughts to cross his mind every single morning, usually just after waking up, is “Urghhh, Brexit…”

Brexit From The Eyes Of An Expat In Spain
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