09 January 2020

The Guardian: Brexit 'deepening inequalities among UK nationals in France'

Brexit is already deepening inequalities among British nationals in France, with some losing rights due to varying levels of Brexit preparedness among local authorities, and women and people in poor health disproportionately affected, research shows.

Extensive interviews with more than 100 British residents in France as part of the 18-month BrExpats programme at Goldsmiths, University of London, have revealed widely differing individual outcomes, Michaela Benson, the project lead, said.

With the UK now sure to leave the EU on 31 January, France requires all British residents to have applied for a carte de séjour, or residence permit, by July 2021. However, Brexit uncertainty has until very recently caused major confusion.

Responsibility for migration governance has been devolved to local government level in France, and central government communication has not always been effective, leading to British residents receiving very different treatment.

“Not only have British nationals been confused, but on many occasions, they have been faced with French officials who have also been confused,” Benson said.

Many local government officers in France were reluctant to process British citizens until relatively recently, dissuading people from even applying until 12 months ago, and Britons are encountering a range of administrative problems even now, she said.

One woman considering a civil partnership with her Irish partner was described by an official in the local mayor’s office as “foreign”, depriving her of rights that, in law, her EU citizenship still permitted.

Such problems are deepening inequalities among British citizens in France, which has the second largest population of UK nationals in Europe after Spain, causing greater uncertainty, insecurity and instability for those who are less well off and for women and people in poor health, the research reveals. [...]

Full article on The Guardian

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