At the Costa del Sol Manilva’s mayor was not the only one trying to reassure worried British expats that they are not about to be kicked out of Spain. In Malaga, Britain’s Embassador tried to reassure worried expat Brits that the UK’s exit from the EU would take at least two years to negotiate. However, Britain’s officials seem to have underestimated how worried people are and how the referendum affects their ability to plan ahead for personal and professional lives.
Focusing on what unites us, not what divides us
Mayor Diego Jose Jimenez and foreign residents’ councillor Dean Tyler Shelton released a joined official statement in response to Britain’s Brexit referendum result.
“We want to send a crystal clear message to every single British resident or second home owner living in Manilva. You have made our town your home and you are more than welcome to be here sharing the best of what we have. We are only a small town on the western edge of the greater Costa del Sol region of Southern Spain but we would like to take this opportunity to express to you our enormous gratitude for the cultural, economic and social contribution you make to our home. Our sentiment and resolution will not change because of the negative result of the Brexit referendum.”
In other parts of Spain British expats are considering getting up a petition for dual Spanish/British nationality. Brexit will affect more than 50,000 British expats living in Malaga province alone. According to Manilva’s official statement, there are some 3,000 Brits living in Manilva permanently, while several thousand own holiday homes and businesses in the area.
“There are well over three thousand British expats currently registered as living in Manilva on a permanent basis without going into how many thousands are invested here in one way or another, you all bring huge benefits to our town, investing in businesses, buying homes, paying taxes and social security, working and contributing to our everyday lives and enriching our cultural diversity.
“It now falls to us as people to pick up the pieces and make sure any changes that may come in time are as painless as possible for you, while hoping there will be few, if any at all. Furthermore it is all of our responsibility to help heal the many divisions that have arisen amongst families, friends and neighbours throughout the whole period of this campaign. Now we would like to use a common and much used phrase; it’s now time to focus on what unites us, rather than that which divides us.”
Applying for dual Nationality to remain an EU citizen
Already more than four hundred people have signed their names to a petition that begs the Spanish government to grant dual nationality to British expats who have lived in Spain for more than ten years. The petition was launched on 4th July by British author and journalist Giles Tremlett, who lives in Madrid. Having lived in Spain for some 25 years, he has written a history on the country.
Understandably, he is worried about his pension and legal rights, if he is forced to return to the UK.
The petition addresses some of the legal difficulties British expats face following Brexit. According to UK law, Spanish nationals have the option to apply for dual citizenship in Britain after working in the country for five years or more. Under Spanish law, however, foreigners must renounce their nationality of birth. The petition also mentions the Spanish government’s decision to offer dual nationality to people who can prove their ancestors were Jews expelled from Spain during the 1492 inquisition.
Speaking to local media, the author said: "With Brexit, I've effectively been expelled from my European citizenship against my choice and with no say in the matter. Spain has been a member of the EU for 30 years, Britain for 40 years. That's long enough for people to have based their entire life plans, their careers, their families, etc on being a European citizen. It's both traumatic and dramatic to have that snatched away."
Applying for German Citizenship
British people of Irish or German origin are also in a position to consider applying for dual nationality and a passport, if they wish to remain EU citizens. Brits whose grandparents were born in Ireland are entitled to apply for Irish citizenship, but so far little publicity has been given to the fact that descendants of former German citizens, who lost their citizenship during the Hitler regime, could also apply for dual nationality. This would concern mostly descendants of German Jews, members of the Communist or Social Democratic parties and descendants of German Romany.
Article 116 par. 2 of Germany’s Grundgesetz (Basic Law) states:
"Former German citizens, who between January 30, 1933 and May 8, 1945 were deprived of their citizenship on political, racial, or religious grounds, and their descendants, shall on application have their citizenship restored. They shall be deemed never to have been deprived of their citizenship if they have established their domicile in Germany after May 8, 1945 and have not expressed a contrary intention.”
If you are a British expat living in Spain and are worried about Brexit, you can add your name to the petition for dual nationality here: https://www.change.org