The EU Commission said the system of security checks is necessary to prevent terrorists entering the open-borders area, but UK Brexit critics warned it is further evidence of the hidden cost of quitting the Union. Under the system, countries from outside the EU which do not require a full visa to travel to the bloc, will now pay a five Euro fee and must complete an online form. The EU’s security commissioner has attempted to justify the charge by saying that it is an anti-terrorism measure. What is not clear is what effect this will have on ex-pats travelling back and forth to the UK.
MPs have latched on to the potential charge as another hidden cost of Brexit and an example of how Brits could be disadvantaged compared to other EU residents. Citing the move as a hidden tax and extra paperwork adding to the impact of the poor exchange rate on British travellers. The proposals were to be discussed last Friday and the Home Secretary is seeking clarity on how Brits can continue to enjoy free and easy travel within the EU.
This appears to be another piece of evidence of the negative effect of leaving the EU for UK people in Spain. The adverse exchange rate prompted by the Brexit vote is still causing hardship amongst ex-pats coupled with the appalling returns on savings.
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A famous Spanish song is entitled ‘Seville has a special colour’ and Seville is indeed warm, vibrant, full of history and has a great atmosphere – whether you are into all of that or merely enjoy a glass of red wine and a plate of 5J Spanish Ham.
I recently attended the British Embassy Outreach Meeting in Perigueux and as you can imagine there were a lot of disgruntled expats wanting answers that, frankly, aren’t really available right now. Understandably, for many living through the turmoil and uncertainty of Brexit, there is a lot to take into consideration and some may even be contemplating moving back to the UK.