Frenchie51

Just seen the news that the UK has voted to leave the EU,must say I hadn't expected this result.Just need to let the dust settle to see how it affects expats. I believe their is a 2 year negotiation period.

dmu

Neither had I, and French OH is also under the shock. I won't be affected personally, but can't help wondering what impact the Brexit will have on UK expats resident in Europe. And on potential expats....

EuroTrash

Yes I'm a bit gobsmacked too, I thought all the hype would turn out another storm in a teacup but no, it's for real. Exciting times, eh!

mikelincs

Current thinking is that it may take up to 7 years, the two years was the time frame for Greenland, but there are a lot more things to sort out with the UK, far more rules etc to get sorted. The major one will be 'will we join the EEA' if we do then freedom of movement will remain, so no change to immigrant numbers, but we will need the EEA to stop trade tariffs being set.

EuroTrash

Suits me, I'll probably be quite ga-ga and past caring by then

Tweedpipe

Interesting. Must admit I'm a little sad but certainly not surprised. I slept like a baby last night. However Mme TP has been up since 4 a.m - apparently couldn't sleep with Brexit on her mind (strange old world isn't it)?
Having planned financially for such a scenario, with several eggs in Euro baskets, fortunately I don't think we will be adversely affected by this latest news. Until of course Mme Le Pen or Another decide to do a Frexit.......

PS: I see Le Pen has just called for a similar referendum - which isn't surprising.

grannybunz

I'm worn out, worried but above all furious. The whole charade need never have happened!

Despite the fact that we have our savings here in France our pensions come from the UK and are taxed there. becasue of all the uncertainty our regular income is going to be badly affected.

Mme Le Pen is delirious with joy, as is Donald Trump and I suspect, Putin. Nothing more to say really!

mikelincs

The biggest problem was the 'crisis' brought about by the rise of UKIP, and the fears that they could become a political force, the UK was always going to have a referendum, but in 2017, but there was so much pressure withing the Tory party by MPs worried that UKIP might take their seats that Cameron agreed to bring it forward to 23rd June, and in doing so sealed his own political fate. If it had waited till 2017 who knows what might have happened.

JWL

OK, I'm worried. If I can't now or soon retire to France as planned as an EU passport holder, is there a route for me via having a fellow Brit brother as resident for 20 odd years?

EuroTrash

I don't quite see what he could do for you, unless he has contacts in very high places.
But non EU citizens are also able to retire to France, you know. There may be a few more hoops to jump through but Yanks, Aussie et al seem to manage it without too much of a problem. If you really want to do it, I'm sure there will be a way.

Chatter Static

Nothing has changed as of yet although you may of missed the right to reside boat because one would assume that some treaty is worked out for currently residing expats.

It's all a bit unclear because the UK could remain in the EEA but not be an EU member state like Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Switzerland is not in the EEA but does have bilateral agreements which give it's citizens the same rights as other EEA member countries.

However.....

Part of the Referendum vote initiative was about stopping the free movement people because obviously that has caused the backlog in the NHS and British Steel is on the brink of collapse because EU talked China into buying British Steel and then closing it so the Chinese could drive up the price of steel across Europe.

Then we move on the whats left of the British car manufacturing industry which is largely owned by Tata and Volkswagen group and GM, that will be disappearing slowly to the cheapest place to build cars which wont be the UK.

audio

There is always going to be a financial risk residing outside the UK, if your income in generated there.
When I first moved here the GBP/Euro was 1.61 then it went down to almost parity and now back up to around 1.25, so it’s swings and roundabouts.
I don’t think it will make too much of a hardship to most in the long run but there again I do not have a crystal ball.

Fredbargate

In a bar last night a young French lady was absolutely amazed and could not understand why I had voted OUT

I and many friends quickly informed her

EuroTrash

+1
Swings and roundabouts indeed. Look on the bright side GrannyB - if the pound does a nosedive you won't have as much income tax or taxe d'habitation (if you pay it) to pay next year. I seem to recall, after the pound had been down to near parity and then it swung back up, that the forums were full of people squealing 'Why am I having to pay income tax this year when I only have exactly the same amount of UK pension that I had last year'

Tweedpipe

'Smile of the Day'.
Mme TP this morning stated, "Well I suppose the masses of immigrants at Calais and other French west coasts will now dry up, as they will realize they are no longer welcome in England" (or words to that effect).
No, she's not blond. Naive yes, (bless her).