United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum
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The nearly five million EU citizens directly affected by Brexit are calling for an end to their "life in fear" from the heads of state and government of the Union. Should the European Council postpone the planned departure of the United Kingdom for several months or even years on Thursday, they would remain in legal limbo. This is stated in a letter from the citizens' representatives to EU Council President Donald Tusk. "That's simply unacceptable for us."
"The nerves are blank," said Maike Bohn on Monday the SPIEGEL. Bohn is the spokesperson for the "the3million" initiative, which represents the interests of some three and a half million EU citizens in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Together with its partner initiative "British in Europe", the group has been trying for almost two years to cushion the legal, financial and social consequences of Brexit for affected citizens.
Andrea Artz
Maike Bohn
It is true that London and Brussels have agreed in principle to grant lifelong rights to almost all existing rights to emigrants scattered across Europe, even after Brexit. However, whether and when the British Parliament will accept the negotiated exit agreement remains completely unclear. A third attempt by Prime Minister Theresa May is scheduled for this week, but could still be tipped for lack of success. On Monday, House Speaker John Bercow already said quite clearly. However, May will apply for an extension of the Brexit deadline at the EU Council meeting on Thursday.
The interest in euthanasia allegedly increases
"We'll forget about all this," says Maike Bohn. Around 1,000 days after the Brexit referendum, reports of panic attacks and depression piled up among the emigrants on both sides of the English Channel. Problems with mortgages and in the workplace would increase. In the United Kingdom, one in five landlords has stated in surveys that they are no longer giving away apartments to EU citizens. "Many are also terrified of their future medical care" - in some cases, people even turned to euthanasia organizations in Switzerland. "Some things may be exaggerated," says Bohn, "but that shows just how great the fear is."
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Donald Tusk, Theresa May (Stock Image)
"British in Europe" and "the3million" have been calling for months for their legal guarantees to be split off from the exit agreement and agreed regardless of the outcome of the Brexit chaos. In an unusual move, the British Parliament backed this demand at the end of February, adding another defeat to Prime Minister May.
The EU Commission subsequently refused to respond. "We will not negotiate mini-deals," said their spokeswoman Mina Andreeva, because that means "that the negotiations have failed." In one-on-one talks with various EU member states, these always indicated that the withdrawal agreement had to be decided in their entirety. There could be no raisin picking, says Bohn. "But we are not raisins, we are not car parts, we are humans."
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As early as February 26, "the3million" wrote in a letter to Chancellor Angela Merkel. This had "in a sensitive time" for Europe, during the so-called refugee crisis, once "humanity and proximity shown." Now "we ask you to take people from the negotiating table". The letter remained without answer until today.
Future planning is not possible
The same applies to the letter to Council President Tusk, which is available to SPIEGEL. "We finally want to be freed from the hostage," it says. The council meeting on Thursday offers the opportunity to do so. There, the 27 heads of state and government of the European Commission would have to give the mandate to conclude an agreement on the rights of nearly five million citizens in the event of failed negotiations with London. In addition, it must be ensured that there is sufficient time for this. "The only way to protect us properly is through an international treaty."
However, an agreement that includes all EU citizens can only be launched as long as the UK is still a member of the EU, said Bohn. If that fails, and if the Brexit negotiations collapse, then 28 national parliaments would independently decide on the fate of the emigrants - with all the legal imponderables. "How five million people should plan their future in these circumstances is beyond our comprehension."