tyr

Yeah this is a very vague thread I know that, and yeah there's not one answer but still I'm wondering about oppinions here.

I'm British (A northner) and I really don't see my future being here...I come from an isolated area and beyond there everything just feels alien anyway so I may as well go the whole hog and go to somewhere totally new and exciting.
In the past I've lived in Amsterdam; I was only there for half a year though (university exchange) and found it to be pretty good but the Netherlands worry me a little. I don't see there being much of a long term future there, its too dangerous with global warming and all. And of course its just too crowded.
Currently I'm living in the anti-Holland; Sweden. Here there's just too much space! They count small towns of a few thousand people as cities. Also the way of life here is just not so great. Too strict. I don't see much of a long term future here but again I'm only here for a short time (a year in this case though-I've got a short term contract on a project)

Following my leaving Sweden I'll be becoming somewhat redundant and in need of a new job. I'm not sure where I shoud look though.

Where do you think the best places to live in Europe are?

Also what are job opportunities like for a Brit abroad?- I've got pretty good IT qualifications but I'm not a language expert, which is of course a big negative point anywhere but Ireland. I can pick up languages after a few months right in them of course but that's no good when you're at your interview.

JAJ

Switzerland?

But depends on what you're looking for.

notathome

Well having lived in Germany for 40 years I'm a bit biased, but you could consider southern Germany, Munich and all that. Here you have the benefit of being in a pleasant town, surrounded by beautiful countryside,southern and eastern Europe and Greece and Turkey on your doorstep. If you are sporty there is endless oportunity to walk in the mountains, go skiing, swimming in lakes and endless other active sports.
My husband says IT specialists are in demand here. An interview in English should be no problem, but plan to learn the language once settled.

Roger O

I lived and worked in Switzerland for 24 years, then 9 years near Nice.
Switzerland is not so easy to get into for work, unless you are very very good - or you're married to a Swiss national!!

If you're seriously into IT work, like a nice climate on the French Riviera and don't need to learn French at all for the work - see this thread for my posting:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...hlight=amadeus

JAJ

Citizens of the Western European EEA nations now have the right to live and work in Switzerland.

Roger O

Grüüezi mitenand!!

They always did - provided they had an employment contract before entering the country. As far as I am aware, the Niederlassungsbewilligung B and C are still subject to the same conditions as always, though the A (Gastarbeiter 9 monate pro Jahr) may have changed.

Are you saying that any EU Member national can just go to Switzerland and apply for a job on the spot - while having already claimed residency in that country? I very strongly doubt that. The thing that has changed is that the previous quotas have been lifted - as previously a max number per year were accepted.

One thing is certain - the Swiss are much more favourable towards ("cultivated") British than they are towards any Germans. After living and working there for 24 years (and having 2 daughters still there as Swiss/British nationals who grew up there) I know the German-Swiss very very well... being completely bilingual in English/Schwiizerdüutsch.
In fact, I would describe myself as a Swiss-British.. now living in France.
http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/front/G...34428000&ty=st

http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/front/S...84243000&ty=st

Ka Ora!

The only Countries excluded from free movement and still now requiring a work permit are Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Estonia or Latvia and Eastern block as they join. Quotas have been lifted though.

CheezyD

Switzerland has great quality of life, high pay and low taxation, but it is a very insular society and expect to find it difficult to make friends. Which is why we started a website. Its location at the centre of Europe is excellent for travelling the area and obviously the safe, quiet existence, mountains and beautiful scenery are a plus for many people.

CheezyD

Jur

Is there a Switzerland forum here?

the troubadour

But Switzerland is not a member of the EEC so how does that fact square with the nations you listed above,which ofcourse are.??

jgombos

According to Forbes, the OP's answer is Belgium:

Worlds top ten places to be an expat.

Although that ranking seems to have a finance bend to it (coming from Forbes).

Roger O

Not expressly, but this forum main titles is Living & Moving Abroad.
Switzerland does happen to be at the centre of geographical Europe, though not an EU member.

I have already been involved in threads on Switzerland.

Mitzyboy

We dont have a specific forum for switzerland hence why posts are here. If threads and posts require then in time as Switzerland gets busier then we may consider adding one

Ka Ora!

Because Switzerland and the EEA have set up special bilateral treaties. It has sought a method to avoid flooding of Eastern block Europeans. It sees that more rigorous control is required when dealing with New Member States and Immigration as typically these States will have a mass outward flow of people with inadequate skill sets looking for Gold at the end of the rainbow.

court

I really am enjoying Budapest. The expat wage here is quite a bit higher than the local salary (I am putting that mildly, it's almost grossly distorted), which means the cost of living well here is relatively small to what you make as an expat.

The city itself has a weird sort of fissure between expats and locals. When I first looked into my flat, I was being presented rents that were normal to me coming from Paris; however, when I involved a Hungarian colleague I was finding absolutely beautiful flats for 2p (that's an exaggeration) in comparison to my wage here. It does make you feel a bit bad being on expat wage here, but eh.

There's a fairly deep calling for IT people in the region and it's a great place to be for launching travel into a lot of hidden gems - Romania, Slovenia, Bosnia, Latvia, and Estonia. Not to mention two hours by car to Vienna and skiing. Ah, I love Budapest and as the Hungarians are becoming increasingly conscious about speaking English it's starting to open up more and more.