22/07/2016 00:00
I was pleased to see that Theresa May and Mariano Rajoy gave assurances to British and Spanish citizens that the British exit from the EU will not affect them. While it is good news and will give some welcome respite for thousands of Britons in Spain and Spaniards in Britain I don't really understand how the two leaders can make this statement because so far no-one real knows the implications of Brexit.
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John Lee (below) - I thought one of the strengths of Brexit (I was against leaving) was supposed to be that the UK actually COULD be selective from outside the EU without being dictated to by Brussels, so theoretically UK-Spain could negotiate their own individual agreements. Having said that, presumably if Spain did want to negotiate a deal with the non-EU UK, and Brussels didn't like it, they would just apply economic pressure to Spain to force them to toe the EU party line. All in all, leaving is a mess but I have to accept that mess because I'm part of the democracy that made that decision.
I am sure that England would have no problem reciprocating with Spain regarding the living and working of people in each country, in effect leaving things as they are, but England will not be allowed to be selective. Englands problem in the past has being totally compliant with everything the EU told them what they could and could not do, unlike some of the other members.Lets hope that whatever the outcome. that Spain, for the good of their economy and of all the people, carry on with our arrangements as they are
Whether this assurance will pacify the British Residents in Spain, remains to be seen. What is paramount at the moment is the fall in the Euro exchange rate. Is the E H I C medical card going to remain valid in Spain?. Will the value of properties fall,in the medium to long term?.Will Mortgages be sustainable, and are they going to cost more to obtain.