Will Spanish be compulsory?
Mar 11th 2019 | 1:51 am
#16
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,356
From: Dixie, ex UK
Re: Will Spanish be compulsory?
I agree - and as with many other questions (here on BE, and in other forums and media) inspired by Brexit, the question assumes that either all countries (globally) conform to some sort of standard model when it comes to immigration laws and rules, or that countries are bound to apply a tit-for-tat approach to immigration laws and rules after Brexit, when in fact a sovereign nation will, and indeed should, act in its own interest, and there is absolutely no need for one country's laws to look anything like another's.
Mar 11th 2019 | 1:57 am
#17
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,172
Re: Will Spanish be compulsory?
I also see from the yougov site re citizenship or settling in the UK that those aged 65 or over are exempted from the English language requirement.
Mar 12th 2019 | 8:34 am
#18
Banned
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 19,367
From: Mallorca
Re: Will Spanish be compulsory?
British pensioners contribute something south of .0001% of Spanish GDP. I seriously doubt it's a consideration.
But unilaterally denying or putting up special barriers for one particular nationality is just stupid (if not illegal).
Nonetheless, the way things seem to be going, Brits may well fall in the same immigration class as Mexicans by the end of this month.
But unilaterally denying or putting up special barriers for one particular nationality is just stupid (if not illegal).
Nonetheless, the way things seem to be going, Brits may well fall in the same immigration class as Mexicans by the end of this month.
Mar 12th 2019 | 2:25 pm
#19
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,356
From: Dixie, ex UK
Re: Will Spanish be compulsory?
0.0001% of USD1,300,000million is USD1,300,000.
According to the Guardian there are 121,000 British Pensioners in Spain.
Therefore per your "facts", the average British pensioner in Spain spent €9.65 in 2017.
I would hazard a guess, given that many British pensioners are living very comfortably in Spain, as well of course as those that are barely scraping by, that based on average British pensioner's contribution to GDP, you are more than three orders of magnitude adrift from reality*, especially when you consider, on top of direct expenditure, that pensioners healthcare in Spain is subsidized by the British government, which is a significant addition to Spanish GDP.
Alternatively, you are spouting utter bo11ocks, as per usual, to support your absurd view point.
* It's hard to be sure exactly how far you are adrift from reality, but suffice to say its " a lot"!
Last edited by Pulaski; Mar 12th 2019 at 2:33 pm.
Mar 12th 2019 | 9:05 pm
#20
Thread Starter
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 552
Re: Will Spanish be compulsory?
Well we are certainly adrift per se the topic !!
Mar 13th 2019 | 11:52 am
#21
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 18,800
From: Not in Paris
Re: Will Spanish be compulsory?
Well, aside from the fact that it's beside the point, your retort is incorrect. At least with respect to Germany and Spain, the two I know well. Both EU and non-EU nationals indeed need to meet all kinds of criteria (sustainable income, health insurance, clean criminal record to name a few), but language skills are not one of them. We are close to many non-EU nationals legally living in both countries who never were required to pass a language test to acquire legal residency visa.
Citizenship, on the other hand (I have direct personal experience here), does indeed require language skills testing. But that's another topic.
But back to the point: Spain doesn't refuse to reciprocate any potential barriers put up by the UK because it somehow depends on low income British pensioners' money (and there's plenty of other EU nationalities who are generally equally wealthy if not wealthier, and enjoy better pensions), rather, it's because such barriers are useless façades which might satisfy a xenophobic electorate, but fail to achieve anything of tangible consequence.
Citizenship, on the other hand (I have direct personal experience here), does indeed require language skills testing. But that's another topic.
But back to the point: Spain doesn't refuse to reciprocate any potential barriers put up by the UK because it somehow depends on low income British pensioners' money (and there's plenty of other EU nationalities who are generally equally wealthy if not wealthier, and enjoy better pensions), rather, it's because such barriers are useless façades which might satisfy a xenophobic electorate, but fail to achieve anything of tangible consequence.
https://m.dw.com/en/language-tests-s...-on/a-16019672
Like the UK there are exceptions and exemptions but to say Germany has a blanket policy of not requiring German language skills in order to obtain a residence visa is simply incorrect.
If Spain chooses not to have a language requirement as part of its visa regime then she is free to do so but this remains unusual in the developed world. Weirdly being able to speak the language of the country in which you reside is generally considered to be a positive thing.
Mar 15th 2019 | 7:31 pm
#22
Banned
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 19,367
From: Mallorca
Re: Will Spanish be compulsory?
The GDP of Spain in 2017, according to the World Bank via Google, was USD1,300,000 million.
0.0001% of USD1,300,000million is USD1,300,000.
According to the Guardian there are 121,000 British Pensioners in Spain.
Therefore per your "facts", the average British pensioner in Spain spent €9.65 in 2017.
I would hazard a guess, given that many British pensioners are living very comfortably in Spain, as well of course as those that are barely scraping by, that based on average British pensioner's contribution to GDP, you are more than three orders of magnitude adrift from reality*, especially when you consider, on top of direct expenditure, that pensioners healthcare in Spain is subsidized by the British government, which is a significant addition to Spanish GDP.
Alternatively, you are spouting utter bo11ocks, as per usual, to support your absurd view point.
* It's hard to be sure exactly how far you are adrift from reality, but suffice to say its " a lot"!
0.0001% of USD1,300,000million is USD1,300,000.
According to the Guardian there are 121,000 British Pensioners in Spain.
Therefore per your "facts", the average British pensioner in Spain spent €9.65 in 2017.
I would hazard a guess, given that many British pensioners are living very comfortably in Spain, as well of course as those that are barely scraping by, that based on average British pensioner's contribution to GDP, you are more than three orders of magnitude adrift from reality*, especially when you consider, on top of direct expenditure, that pensioners healthcare in Spain is subsidized by the British government, which is a significant addition to Spanish GDP.
Alternatively, you are spouting utter bo11ocks, as per usual, to support your absurd view point.
* It's hard to be sure exactly how far you are adrift from reality, but suffice to say its " a lot"!
But back to the point; The reason why Spain (or any other EU country) refuses to reciprocate UK barriers to immigration isn't because bit depends on the (nonexistent) gazillions of pensioners money, but because it's just plain stupid.
​​​​​
Mar 16th 2019 | 10:31 am
#23
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 3
Re: Will Spanish be compulsory?
amideislas
Re: Will Spanish be compulsory?
Statement: "British pensioners contribute something south of .0001% of Spanish GDP. I seriously doubt it's a consideration".
Now: "It was a generalisation of a miniscule contribution, not a"fact".
So the fact has suddenly turned into a generalisation.
Now you're into trying to prove that black is white. Stop taking us for fools & listen to Pulaski, he's right.
Re: Will Spanish be compulsory?
Statement: "British pensioners contribute something south of .0001% of Spanish GDP. I seriously doubt it's a consideration".
Now: "It was a generalisation of a miniscule contribution, not a"fact".
So the fact has suddenly turned into a generalisation.
Now you're into trying to prove that black is white. Stop taking us for fools & listen to Pulaski, he's right.
Mar 16th 2019 | 11:44 am
#24
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 18,800
From: Not in Paris
Re: Will Spanish be compulsory?
It was a generalisation of a miniscule contribution, not a"fact".
But back to the point; The reason why Spain (or any other EU country) refuses to reciprocate UK barriers to immigration isn't because bit depends on the (nonexistent) gazillions of pensioners money, but because it's just plain stupid. ​​​​​
But back to the point; The reason why Spain (or any other EU country) refuses to reciprocate UK barriers to immigration isn't because bit depends on the (nonexistent) gazillions of pensioners money, but because it's just plain stupid. ​​​​​
Mar 18th 2019 | 6:43 pm
#25
Banned
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 19,367
From: Mallorca
Re: Will Spanish be compulsory?
Because it's not a requirement to obtain residence as indicated earlier. Your counter to that was, "yeah, but if they bring family...". Maybe, I don't know about that, but in most countries, for residency alone, I'd expect family members to be treated the same as anyone else. We can argue about whether that's a good idea or not, but that's a different topic.
Citizenship is a different issue. As stated previously. You may be conflating the two.
In any case, despite your hubris, impoverished Europe isn't dependent on a handful of "rich" british pensioners, their 500 per week, or their shiny beads. That's not why they won't reciprocate British anti foreigner policy. The reason they wont reciprocate it is because it's stupid.
Citizenship is a different issue. As stated previously. You may be conflating the two.
In any case, despite your hubris, impoverished Europe isn't dependent on a handful of "rich" british pensioners, their 500 per week, or their shiny beads. That's not why they won't reciprocate British anti foreigner policy. The reason they wont reciprocate it is because it's stupid.
Mar 22nd 2019 | 7:29 am
#27
Banned
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 19,367
From: Mallorca
Re: Will Spanish be compulsory?
There's no advantage in singling out Brits to impose unnecessary barriers. Britain may choose to impose unnecessary barriers on Europeans out of vindictiveness or spite or whatever, but that's Britain's problem.
Last edited by amideislas; Mar 22nd 2019 at 7:34 am.
