European citizens enjoy a series of rights - including freedom of movement - but should Brits continue enjoying them after Brexit?
An astounding 47,023 people residing in the United Kingdom have signed a petition calling on the EU to guarantee permanent European citizenship to British citizens – even after Brexit.
The citizen’s initiative on permanent EU citizenship is part of the campaign of the same name, launched last year to protect the rights of those affected by Brexit. The petition was launched by Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation’s journal The Spokesman editor Tony Simpson, with the support of Professor Dexter Whitfield from the European Services Strategy Unit (ESSU).
The call-out for signatures reads:
“EU citizens elect the European Parliament and participate in its work, thus exercising treaty rights, enhancing Union democracy, and reinforcing its citizenship. Noting the [European Court of Justice’s] view of Union citizenship as a ‘fundamental status’ of nationals of Member States, and that Brexit will strip millions of EU citizens of this status and their vote in European elections, requests the Commission propose means to avoid risk of collective loss of EU citizenship and rights, and assure all EU citizens that, once attained, such status is permanent and their rights acquired.”
To be successful, a European citizens’ initiative not only has to reach one million signatories in 12 months, it also has to reach the required minimum threshold in at least seven member states. The threshold of signatures for Britain is set at 54,750, which means the petition is close to reach its threshold in at least one of the seven countries required.
Unfortunately, figures are not as promising in other nations, as fewer citizens have as of yet signed. The highest participations after Britain came from Romanian, which has reached just under 8% of the needed signatures, Belgium (6%) and the Netherlands (5%).
European citizens are given a series of rights applicable to all nationals of member states, including the right to freedom of movement inside EU borders and the right to consular protection by any member state diplomatic corps when outside of EU borders.
The debate over whether UK nationals should continue enjoying European citizenship following Brexit has been raging on.
Permanent European Union Citizenship campaign supporter Stephen said he backed the call because:
“My rights as a UK citizen living and working in the EU are about to be take away from me. I am just one of the millions who was not offered the opportunity to voice opinion as to whether the UK should remain or leave the EU. Retention of my EU citizenship is a most vital aspect of my life.”
Supporters of European citizens’ initiatives have to be EU nationals of 18 years of age (unless they are Austrian, where voting age starts at 16).
The petition has so far reached a total of 61,072, but it has another 11 months to run.
If you’d like to support the citizens’ initiative visit eci.ec.europa.eu.
Joana Ramiro is a reporter for Left Foot Forward. You can follow her on Twitter for all sorts of rants here.
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