The Vote Leave campaign (www.voteleave take control.org) argue that a British exit from the EU would result in Brussels having to work far harder at reaching mutually satisfactory arrangements about EU citizens living in the UK.
“In fact reaching an agreement is in the interests of the EU more than the UK, because there are now three million EU citizens living in the UK, whereas just 1.3 million British citizens live in the whole of the EU”, Vote Leave explains in its statement, in which it also looks to address some of the most commonly asked questions about what would happen should British voters opt for Brexit.
Would UK citizens living in the EU be required to leave?
No. This would be illegal under EU law. As one of the EU’s former top lawyers, Jean-Claude Piris, has said: ‘Those with permanent residency in EU states could stay’. EU law clearly states that any measure which deprived British citizens currently lawfully living in the EU of their right of residence - solely based on their nationality - would be unlawful.
Would the children of British expats living in the EU need visas to visit them?
No. Many countries around the world have visa free access to the EU’s passport-free travel area without accepting the supremacy of EU law. These include Nauru and Samoa. Those suggesting the UK will get a worse deal than Nauru are doing Britain down.
Will the pensions of British citizens living in the EU continued to be paid?
Yes. State pensions are payable to British citizens who choose to retire overseas. There is no requirement to remain resident in the UK to receive a state pension. As the Government acknowledges: ‘You can claim State Pension abroad if you’ve paid enough UK National Insurance contributions to qualify’.
Will the state pension be updated annually?
It is highly likely that this will continue. The UK has a number of agreements with countries outside the EU, including the United States and Mauritius, which provide for the annual uprating of the state pension. The UK could strike an agreement with the members of the EU to the same effect after we Vote Leave.
What about healthcare costs?
It is highly likely that these will continue to be met. At present, the UK gets a very bad deal. In 2013/2014, we paid nearly £750 million for the treatment of EU citizens in the UK, but the UK received just over £50 million from Brussels for the treatment of EU citizens in the UK. It is therefore overwhelmingly in the interests of EU states to reach an agreement with the UK to preserve these existing rights.