We seem to be sliding around all over the place here.

I'm a little surprised about the antipathy and scepticism over what, in the end, is a decision for the French parliament and nothing at all to do with free movement. If they have deemed it advantageous to France to give UK citizens with 2nd homes in France a bit of leeway via a facilitation of an already-existing visa, why should anybody else object?

It isn't anything like the previously-mentioned Golden Visa schemes because it won't afford the holder residence privileges or any rights beyond French territory - and even the highly dubious GVs were never actually deemed against EU laws, or liable to incur infraction processes, to the best of my knowledge, despite the various well-founded criticisms.

Some of the comments in response to this seem more about poster wishes and opinions than about the actual circumstances.

Actually no, the comments are about the circumstances - and about rejecting special privileges for those (exceptionalists) from the UK.

The problem with this proposed scheme is it smacks of exceptionalism. It may well benefit France but why should a country (the UK) who voted to Leave the EU and went out of its way to bring about the hardest form of Brexit be able to pick off the parts of EU freedom of movement that they liked and then hail it as some great win - which it isn't for reasons stated above.

How do you think it will work and how will stand up to the Schengen sniff test? There is nothing stopping these people from drifting into other EU states if they feel like it.

It's a nonsense and no doubt it will be thrown out or seriously watered down. It also sounds like it was helped along by Macron's domestic political problems with the immigration bill the other day but most of that will probably be jettisoned too.

They aren't.

This is one EU country's administration making a decision on one national policy. It's not "the UK" controlling or influencing policy here nor picking anything off and anybody claiming victory over it is just being silly, although there is, of course, a Brexiter narrative for every circumstance (I'm assuming it's Daily Express type headline treatment of the matter you're referring to).

Or to put it another way, why should one small, specific group have the ill effects of Brexit mitigated.

why shouldn’t they ? If the legislators of a particular country feel that it’s the appropriate thing to do. (Although it’s a big IF at the moment)

I'm not denying the rights of national legislators.

I agree. There is a lot of opposition to this visa in France for that very reason.

Of course France is at liberty to introduce a new visa for third country nationals but they can only go so far because they are Schengen members. They can't offer non resident third country nationals a visa that is equal to freedom of movement.

Brexit has failed miserably and expensively and the UK needs to rejoin the single market before even more damage is done. That way, everyone gets their precious rights to freedom of movement back.

That's all good then, because they aren't.

This would be on exactly the same basis as other national visas, ie it applies to time spent in the country that issues it, without affecting the normal Schengen rights and obligations of the holder.

I'm not sure why anybody would leap to the immediate conclusion that it would simply be used as a way of circumventing Schengen rules in the rest of the Schengen Area. Somoene who's a long-standing property owner wishing to enjoy extended breaks in their 2nd home in France is hardly likely to go skipping off to Greece or Lithuania at the earliest opportunity and even if they took eg a couple of weeks' break in another country during that period, they wouldn't be breaking any law (I assume, unless the terms of the visa specifically forbid it, which seems unlikely. Guess we'll have to wait and see on that, though). They may have to comply with some obligations if they do so, though.

It’s interesting how some remainers are still so aggrieved at losing a vote that they even object to something good for their countrymen.

Sorry, missed the question when you posted it.
https://www.thelocal.fr/20231201/fre...nd-home-owners

Tip: To bypass the (most) paywalls use Brave browser and it's 'speedreader' mode. Rarely fails. A great browser to boot and widely rated as top for privacy!

Spot on ! …. Sadly there are a few bitter posters on here who see those impacted by Brexit through no fault of their own (with regards to second homes etc) as some sort of enemy or threat.

👍 thanks

Some of us believe in democracy and the consequences of a majority vote,

There are also posters who endeavour to either cause distress for others or start an argument by harping on about the consequences of Brexit.

Rosemary