LONDON (AP) – The vast majority of British and EU citizens have so far not felt the reality of Brexit. Although the UK left the European Union on 31 January, it is following the rules of the bloc until the end of this year as part of a transition period to the new economic relationship.
It is ready to change.
On 1 January, Britain begins its new, distant relationship with the EU after almost five decades of closer economic, cultural and social integration.
The change for Britain’s economy and people is the most dramatic since World War II, certainly more so than when the country joined the then European Economic Community in 1973.
“This is a much bigger shock to our economic system and it’s going to happen immediately,” said Anand Menon, director of the UK’s think tank in changing Europe, and a professor of European politics and foreign affairs at King’s College. in London.
“Suddenly you wake up in a new world at the beginning of January.”
Here are some changes to the movement that people will start to feel almost overnight.
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WHAT CHANGES?
Although the coronavirus pandemic has led to a collapse in the number of people traveling between Britain and the EU, the end of freedom of movement from 1 January will be the most tangible consequence of Brexit so far.
Under the divorce agreement reached by the two parties on 24 December, the approximately 1 million British citizens legally in the EU will have essentially the same rights as now. The same goes for more than 3 million EU citizens living in the UK
But British citizens no longer have the automatic right to live and work in the EU, and vice versa. People who want to cross the border to settle must follow immigration rules and experience other red tape, such as ensuring their qualifications are recognized.
The exception is people moving between the UK and Ireland, who have a separate common travel area.
For many people in the EU, the freedom to travel, study and live in the bloc of 27 countries is one of the most attractive aspects of European integration.
Yet some in Britain and other parts of Western Europe became more skeptical about freedom of movement after several former communist countries in Eastern Europe joined the EU in 2004 and many of their citizens moved to the UK and other richer countries. to work. Concerns about immigration were a major factor in the British Brexit vote in 2016. On 1 January, the consequences of the decision will become clear to British and European citizens.
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WHAT ARE THE NEW TRAVEL RULES?
Although holiday travel will remain visa-free, British citizens are only allowed to spend 90 days out of every 180 in the EU, while the UK allows European citizens to stay for up to six consecutive months.
For retired British citizens who were used to spending more than three months in their second homes on the sunny Costa del Sol in Spain, the change could come as a shock. British travelers in Europe will also need to have at least six months on their passports and buy their own travel insurance. The British health insurance card is no longer issued to the British, which guarantees access to medical care throughout the bloc, but the UK says they are setting up a replacement system so that British visitors to the bloc and EU citizens visiting Britain still receive medical cover has.
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WHAT ABOUT PETS?
For British citizens accustomed to taking their dog, cat or ferret on holiday to Europe every summer, the situation will become more complicated as Britain will no longer be part of the EU’s passport scheme for pets – despite the agreement during difficult months. long procedures avoid some have feared. British pet owners must have their pet microchipped and vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days before their trip, and must obtain an animal health certificate from a veterinarian, no more than ten days before departure.
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WILL MANAGING A DIFFICULTY?
The agreement means that British drivers will not need an international driving permit once they cross the canal. British motorists can travel in the EU on their British licenses and insurance, provided they provide proof that they are insured in the form of a ‘green card’.
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WHAT ABOUT WORK?
The end of freedom of movement will have a major impact on hiring on all sides of the labor market.
A newly graduated British citizen on holiday in the Greek islands, for example, cannot walk to a beach bar and look for part-time work without the necessary visa. The same goes for European citizens arriving in the UK. They will not be able to show up at a sandwich shop like Pret a Manger and look for work without the necessary documentation.
Larger businesses will also find it much harder and more expensive to hire people from the other side. The agreement does contain provisions to enable contractors and business travelers to make short-term business trips without visas.
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