So How Does Everyone Feel About Those Of Us Unhappy With Brexit Having 'opt-In Eu Citizenship'?

[kvalidir]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-eu-citizenship-keep-freedom-of-movement-guy-verhofstadt-chief-negotiator-opt-in-passports-a7465271.html?cmpid=facebook-post

[Jackdaw33]

The voice of desperation. Totally impracticable. How can anyone vote in EU elections when there are no UK candidates? This guy just proves how wise we were to leave.

[AB Editor]

It's an attempt to devalue the idea that a British passport can get you anywhere in the world, I would say?

[emmie]

i can't get the link to play. doesn't this just make matters more confused -

[anotheoldgit]

How much will it cost them?

[achad]

Bye bye

[vulcan42]

I think the idea is brilliant, the only stipulation I would make is to be eligible you have to live in Europe.

[mushroom25]

interesting precedent - passports issued by an entity that isn't a sovereign state. not sure how it'll work.....

[ichkeria]

I am sure Theresa May would be delighted at the idea.
After all she wants to please everyone apparently :-)
How do I feel about people who would not be happy about it?
I would not be concerned about people in this country who were not happy about it, but I WOULD worry that it might cause people in the rest of the EU to be unhappy about it ...

[ToraToraTora]

why would you be unhappy? Sounds like a good idea to me. Not sure how the voting in EU elections is going to work mind as there won't be any UK MEPs to vote for but on the whole I'd have thought it offers those that want it, associate membership, which, in their eyes, is better than no membership.

[vulcan42]

Would they have to send their wages to Brussels and at the end of the month be given their pocket money?

[Old_Geezer]

The EU is not a nation yet and so has no citizens of its own, so consequently can not offer citizenship in any meaningful interpretation of the word. It the EU wishes to offer concessions to UK citizens that's their perogative just so long as they aren't daft enough to expect this to be reciprocated to citizens of countries in the EU.

[Khandro]

I think we are going to see a lot of this tactic (on both sides?) - make some unfounded statement and see what is said about it pro and con.

[naomi24]

I don't feel any way about it.

[woofgang]

me either. I would want to know what it means in practice both pros and cons, before taking a view.

[vulcan42]

Fifth column comes to mind.

[EDDIE51]

I will be opting in. Why should I lose the right to live and work in any EU country I choose?

[New Judge]

OG has beaten me to it but I’m not entirely clear what it is that Mr V is offering.

He talks of “retaining rights as EU citizens”. There is no such thing as EU citizenship. The 500m people across Europe are citizens of 28 individual nations that happen to be members of the EU. But perhaps that’s a matter of semantics. However, he says his plan would allow UK citizens who opt in to his scheme to retain the right to live and work in the EU. (He also says they could vote in EU elections but since that is a fairly worthless exercise I doubt that will sway too many people). I like this bit:

“The proposal could potentially give Brits who live and work across borders a workaround to the disruption caused by the Leave vote – and young people looking to flee an increasingly isolated UK greater choice over where to move to.”

“An increasingly isolated UK”? I think not. It is the EU that seeks isolationism. It is an increasingly inward looking organisation which pursues a protectionist agenda which shows no sign of wavering. It should be remembered that there are around eight times as many nations outside the EU (many of whom have no trading agreements with the EU – and hence the UK). Still it doesn't really matter what the Independent thinks.

Like Vulcan I suggest that those people wishing to retain “EU citizenship” may like to consider moving to an EU nation. That’s the easiest solution surely. I also cannot understand how a UK citizen who lives here might want to vote for an MEP who represents, say, northern France or Eastern Poland. However, so long as there no similar reciprocal arrangements suggested, the EU can really do what it likes.

[cassa333]

I think in the end all the rattling will be for nothing. It is impractical.

How will all these individuals pay their share of the EU bill for a start?

[ladybirder]

Cor Blimey EDDIE, haven't you had enough jobs:-)

[ichkeria]

No one's going to want to do it anyway, surely?
We'll be too busy enjoying our freedom to trade with Australia :-)