One of the most concerning implications today
One of the most concerning implications today forBritons (with the United Kingdom opting out of the European Union) is loss ofcitizenship of the European Union.
British nationals will no longer be able toenjoy the right to equal treatment as cherished by nationals of other EU memberstates, after making an exit from the European Union. Also, British nationalspresently enjoying second nationality benefits will no longer enjoy the rightto live in any European Union member state or the right to free movement withinthe European Union.Presently, the European Union citizenship allowsnational of EU member states to work, live, train, or study anywhere in the EU.Nationals of the member states can receive necessary healthcare in any memberstate. Moreover, EU member state nationals can stand and vote in an election ofthe European Parliament.
They cannot be discriminated against and are entitledto consular authority protection of any EU member state.The legal status of non-British EU citizens living inthe United Kingdom and British EU citizens living in the European member statesis undoubtedly one of the most complicated issues to be resolved after decisionof the United Kingdom to leave the Union. No wonder, a lot of proposals are turning up with eachpassing day. There are suggestions from some to grant residency rights tonon-British EU nationals, while some suggest a complete departure from Brexitin the interest of all. There have also been suggestions of other cut-off datesand associate citizenship.Citizenship of the European Union shall not replacenational citizenship and shall be additional to it. It is no surprise that asignificant majority of individuals with British citizenship have alreadystarted applying to acquire dual nationality with other European Union memberstates, to keep enjoying their British dual citizenship benefits.A majority of Britons are looking for some luck tofind out if their parents or grandparents were born in Ireland.
This is becauseIreland has highly welcoming rules on granting citizens to individuals withIrish heritage. Not only this, the not-so-lucky people with no Irish ancestryare signing to the foreign births register of Ireland. It is due to the factthat an individual is not actually required to move to Ireland for becoming itscitizens but an Irish passport will make him or her citizen of the EuropeanUnion by extension, which means freedom of movement across the EU bloc.
Another part of the population is resting its hopes onthe e-residency program of Estonia. This program permits anyone from any partof the world to sign up over the internet to receive an identification cardfrom the Estonian government along with a special category of residency. Ifthat was not all, some are contemplating the idea of marrying someone fromanother EU country. Some are even thinking about the idea of moving to adifferent EU country, staying there, and later submitting an application forcitizenship.
The UK government has already promised a streamlinedprocess for providing assistance (after Brexit on 29 March 2019) to most EuropeanUnion citizens who are presently living in Britain. There is surely apossibility that the UK government could reach an agreement with the EuropeanUnion in the near future for the benefit of UK citizenship holders. Thisagreement may permit citizens of the United Kingdom living elsewhere in theEuropean Union to continue enjoy their privileges and rights. It could alsoprovide a reciprocal arrangement for nationals of other European Union memberstates, who work and live in the United Kingdom, to enjoy dual nationality UKbenefits.
