“How might Brexit affect expatriates”, Connexion, 31 | 03 | 2016 – Reportaje

Several readers have been asking Connexion about the possible effects of a Brexit on expat Britons in France. Here we recap key areas for the lives of expats that could be affected, and we will update this article in due course if useful new information comes to our attention.

 

"Brits will never quit Costa Blanca and prove it by the billions", Euro Weekly News, 31 | 03 | 2016 – Noticia

...as always, the faithful British buyer headed the list followed by the Swedish, Norwegians, Belgians and French.

 

"Property sales boom", Costa Blanca News, 30 | 03 | 2016 – Noticia

Figures released this week show that foreign property buyers in Alicante province are pumping an average of €2.25 billion a year into the provincial economy, eclipsing the total export sales of the shoe, toy and marble industries and equivalent to around 8% of the provincial GDP (PIB).

 

“Why Brexit could be bad for expat homeowners in Spain”, The Local, 30 | 03 | 2016 – Reportaje

Over the last two years, Spain has maintained its historic reputation as the top Mediterranean destination for Brits buying abroad but that could be about to change if Britain votes to leave the European Union. … A falling pound could negatively affect British consumers buying overseas properties and more generally those funding a life abroad with GBP, whether that be a holiday or longer-term retirement. … Most Brits rely on their European Health Insurance Card when … moving to Europe. This system might change should the UK leave the EU. If healthcare becomes suddenly more expensive or harder to access, it could be a deal breaker for overseas buyers … particularly retirees.

 

“For British expats in Spain, Brexit is a cloud over the sun”, The Guardian, 30 | 03 | 2016 - Opinión (Matthew Tree)

Earlier this week, The Times reported that 100 British expats are leaving Spain every day. But it failed to add that many of us are desperately trying to stay by finding alternative ways to remain within the EU, should the British in Britain (or perhaps just the English in Britain) decide to slip their European moorings on 23 June.

 

"Every day 100 British expats quit Spain as uncertainty over June's EU vote triggers exodus from Europe", Daily Mail, 29 | 03 | 2016 - Reportaje (Mattt Dathan)

Earlier this month a group of British expats launched a judicial review over the decision to bar some British citizens living in other EU countries from voting in the June 23 referendum. British citizens who have lived abroad for more than 15 years are automatically disenfranchised... Law firm ... representing the expats in their legal challenge, claims that the automatic exclusion breaks EU laws. It says the people who will be most affected by a Brexit are those who have been excluded from having a voice in the historic referendum. ... A High Court judge in London will decide...

 

"Thousands of expats quit Europe amid Brexit fears", The Tiimes, 29 | 03 | 2016 - Noticia

...an investigation by The Times has found. ... Uncertainty over the future of healthcare benefits and the value of the state pension if Britain withdraws will bring a further increase in the number returning home...

 

"Brexit 'would trigger exodus of British expats from Europe'", The Telegraph, 29 | 03 | 2016 - Noticia

France has warned that if Britain opted to leave the EU in the June 23 referendum, Britons would no longer be able to access public healthcare. ... In Spain, British pensioners are able to receive free healthcare if they are registered in the local area. “If Britain were to leave, there would be nothing to stop Spain, France or any other country from preventing Britons from accessing their healthcare system, because they are free to discriminate against non-EU citizens,” Mr McGrory was quoted as saying. ... Rob Oxley, of the Vote Leave campaign, said ... "There is a huge incentive for Brussels to do a deal," ... "Pro-EU campaigners do Britain down by saying we can’t do a deal but we have a strong hand, and we should play it. Despite the scaremongering no British expats are going to be asked to leave the EU post Brexit.” ... There are also fears over whether pensions would continue to rise with inflation should Britain vote to leave. The government only raises the value of the state pension for people living in the EU, with Britons in Australia, for example, denied the advantage.

 

"Sobre suelo no urbanizable", El Diario, 27 | 03 | 2016 - Opinión (Miren Azkue, periodista)

En Alcaucín, una pequeña localidad de la comarca malagueña de La Axarquía, el presidente del colectivo 'Save Our Homes Axarquía' y concejal de Urbanismo por Los Verdes hasta mayo de 2015, ejerce en la actualidad de afectado y alcalde... 'Save Our Homes Axarquía' ha dado el salto a la política para “intentar” legalizar cientos de viviendas que sus predecesores permitieron levantar en suelo protegido y no urbanizable haciendo caso omiso a informes medioambientales y jurídicos. ... buena parte de los afectados son británicos... tienen todo el derecho a defender lo que es suyo porque se les engañó. Pero desobedecer las sentencias de derribo o modificar los planeamientos urbanísticos 'ad hoc' daría alas a los verdaderos culpables, a los que no respetan el territorio...

 

“Does 1969 Vienna Convention help?”, Connexion, 24 | 03 | 2016 – Noticia

Readers have contacted Connexion asking whether the 1969 Vienna Convention would protect expats’ ‘acquired rights’ in the event of a Brexit – experts we consulted say it would not.

 

"Spanish expats divided over Brexit", The Telegraph, 19 | 03 | 2016 - Noticia

Down on the Spanish costas many expats say they are prepared to risk their pensions and healthcare to follow their hearts over Brexit

 

"«¿Quién me va a pagar el médico en España si salimos de la Unión Europea?»", El Confidencial, 19 | 03 | 2016 - Reportaje (Ángel Villarino)

Los cientos de miles de pensionistas británicos que viven en España temen perder derechos si salen de la Unión Europea. Muchos podrían acabar marchándose

 

"What could be the implications of a Brexit on expats?", Expatica, 17 | 03 | 2016 - Reportaje (Nikolas Xenofontos)

British pensioners living elsewhere in the EU might have their pensions frozen unless there is a reciprocal agreement made between the UK government and the governments of these nations. Also, British pensioners might not enjoy the annual state pension increase unless otherwise mandated. ...the UK government has been paying other EU countries to shoulder the treatment of British pensioners living there while receiving funds from other nations to pay for the treatment of their citizens in the UK. This suggests that healthcare abroad might not be affected by any Brexit, although this is still mostly speculation.

 

"Brexit anxiety stalks the Costa del Sol: ‘If we quit Europe, Brits won’t buy here’", The Guardian, 05 | 03 | 2016 - Reportaje (Tracy McVeigh)

Amid warnings over pensions and healthcare, British expats in Spain could be facing an uncertain future after the EU referendum