I'm pretty certain that DC shares much the same views as Osbourne, but does not wish to be singled out by Brussels as the only one from the UK Govt who has an axe or two to grind.

I recall him walking out of an EU meeting last year when he found out that the rest of the greedy wasteful pigs were gorging themselves on wine at 121 euros a bottle at taxpayers expense many of whom didn't have a cent to scratch their backsides.

We're an island nation with a long-standing Monarchy and have fought many wars against those pesky Europeans - the French, the Germans and even the Spanish (but that was just at sea, wasn't it?).

And if we vote against the EU then we get rid off all our foreigners, right?

I don't think Wellington was all at sea when he stuffed that arrogant little Nappy bloke.
Not to mention the little matter of two World Wars, mostly fought out on land.

As for the rest of your post, I'll leave it to someone else to bite first.

Most expats I know intend to return home if we lose the EU vote in 2017, staying on in a European country afterwards would be too unrealistic, even if they let us.

I don't think we'll lose the vote, the UK will be promised some minor reforms just to keep the plebs happy and common sense will prevail.

Why would it be a problem for the average expat pensioner?

I don't know anyone who is intending to return "home" if it should happen, which I doubt.

Why would it be unrealistic and why would they not let us?

Rosemary

IIRC when we joined the EEC in 1973 there were 9? of us, Western European countries, now we're 28 made up of some rag tag third rate Eastern European countries, with the threat of even more members. They definitely won't be joining for what they can add to the EU, like all the latest lot to join it'll be for what they can take out, and guess who'll be paying? Most of the rest of the world sees it's trade figures climbing, whilst the EU figures have been dropping for some time, and continue to to drop. Anyway, to end on a happy note, have a laugh at one floppy haired ex-PM of a non country who hopes to become President of the EU.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/da...deo-ever-made/

Sweet Mother of Jesus, just when we thought it couldn't get any worse.

Outside of the EU I would bet we could dictate better reciprical arrangements with Spain than we have now.

They need us a damned sight more than we need them, that's for sure.

As for HBGs ridiculous claim about most expats leaving if we opt out of this godamn EU mess, I would say it's much more likely he will find himself in a minority of one on his return trip to Blighty.

We know the regulations and don't need to discuss them again. Here's what Hornchurch Man can do while still a member of the EU.

He can pack his passport on a Saturday morning, travel down to Southend and catch a plane to Alicante. By lunchtime he can be booked into a hotel in Rincon de Loix, the British part of Benidorm.

After looking around over the rest of the weekend, he can visit a property transfer agent and rent a bar in Benidorm, one that's ready to start trading. The agent will suggest a Gestor to apply for the paper work, there's plenty of time, he's got three months to get his autonomo.

The agent will also arrange for his 'white van' supplies the following day and by eleven o'clock on the Tuesday morning Hornchurch Man will be standing behind the bar of his own bar serving all his thirsty customers.

All of that is possible because of our membership of the EU.

The Spanish are bound by EU rules to give us expats living here as residents some rights and protection. These would be lost if we were no longer members of the EU. Work-permits would return (did you ever try and get one in the bad old days?). My kids, with American passports, who all grew up here, schooled here, speak Spanish as their first language, were unable to renew their residences after university and were obliged to leave Spain in search of work elsewhere (they are now, all three, happily working in the USA). Residence Permits (need to import so much money, etc) or three or six- month visas... The loss of voting rights (important if you live in a small village run by paletos). Medical rights... I'm sure importing a RHD British car would go out the window as well...
And, what's so great about Britain, anyway?

Lots of expats live in non-EU countries so I don't see why it should be a problem.

I just had a thought, OK it probably won't happen again, would a none EU resident of Spain be bound by 720? What I actually mean is would their country of domicile be expected to supply the Spanish tax authorities with details of someones income, savings and investments?

All probably true.

But I suspect it would be politically dangerous (and likely against some EU human rights rule) to to kick out any Brit who previously has a legitimate, established first residence and life in Spain, because it would appear to - and serve as indisputable evidence of - some kind of political retribution against innocent victims.

But I'd have to believe getting in afterwards would be more difficult.

Nonetheless, if the EU, in its quest to engineer a perfect society and maintain status quo for the politically connected, continues to blindly subject its population to increased regulation, taxes, bureaucracy, and decreasing living standards, then I'd have to believe it would be perfectly reasonable for any member state to consider whether EU membership is worth the drawbacks.

BTW, aside from some kind of convenience, I'm not sure why you'd really want import a RHD car anyway. Sell it in Britain and buy a LHD here. Simples.

Of course, if the UK does leave the EU, (and I understand that Scotland will have a referendum on joining the EU after independence (if they go for it), and also joining the Euro,) what would happen to those living in EU countries with non EU spouses, they would lose the SS route, and have to get back to the UK by the financial route