A little photographic footnote
The pictures on this website were taken in Brittany. Looking from the French side over the sea direction UK, the image of what looked like a departing solitary rock and a man staring over the cliff edge appeared rather suggestive of Brexit and the fate of EU citizens residing in the UK.
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A little about myselfI am Professor of EU Law and Director of the Centre for European Law and Governance at Cardiff University. Since 2017 I have given legal advice as a volunteer to the3million, the main civil society organisation representing the interests of EU citizens in the UK, which was established soon after the Brexit referendum. Often this work happened also in collaboration with The British in Europe, defending rights of British citizens residing in the rest of the EU.
Personally, Brexit convinced me to take up British citizenship, in addition to my Belgian citizenship. Residing since more than a decade in the UK, the slow and patchy reaction of the Government after the referendum did not convince me that my current rights as a resident would be sufficiently protected post-Brexit. Yet, for many EU citizens in the UK the option to adopt British citizenship is not available because they are not long enough in the UK, their country of origin does not allow dual citizenship, or the financial cost is simply too high. Moreover, those most vulnerable and less informed may fail to follow required administrative procedures, even if they are eligible. I hope this website can contribute to finding a sound legal solution to ensure EU citizens already in the UK and British citizens in the EU are not deprived of existing rights. |