Unite for Europe – Stop the Silence – Spread the Word
A C Grayling on the Unite for Europe March
The Choose Freedom Campaign is a European Citizens’ Initiative that is the brainchild of Glyn Hughes, 57 year old Engineering Designer from Derbyshire. The aim of the campaign is to persuade the European Union to issue EU passports to any EU citizens that are at risk of losing their rights and freedoms, in this case, as a result of Brexit. You do not have to be a UK Citizen or a resident of Spain to take part!
A European Citizens’ Initiative is an EU scheme that allows citizens to propose legislation, if they can garner the support of one million citizens across the European Union. To support an ECI at least 1 million signatures are needed, spread across at least 7 EU member countries. (Regulation 211/2011). Citizens’ Initiatives were first introduced with the Lisbon Treaty in 2012, as a way to empower citizens to deliver a better Europe. They have rarely been used up until now.
To date, there have been a number of schemes attempting to attain EU citizenship from the European Union. The main stumbling block is that only Nation states can issue Citizenship, so it is not within the power of the EU to do so. However, what the EU can do, is to issue EU passports, which would come with all the associated rights of citizenship. There already exists (Regulation 1417/2013) the ability for the EU to issue EU passports to diplomats and officials.
Citizens’ Initiative Basic Facts: http://ec.europa.eu/citizens-initiative/public/basic-facts
You can read the Bremain in Spain Official Press Release here
You can read the European Commission Official Press Release here
The Commission has accepted that the Choose Freedom application is legally valid on this basis.
The rules for voting are fairly complex, and vary from country to country. UK citizens living in the EU will be governed by the rules of their country of residence. Some EU countries will give EU migrants the choice of voting in their country of citizenship or their country of residence.
However, a unique situation adversely effecting only citizens of the UK and Ireland, is that the rules of France, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Austria and Portugal prevent them from voting altogether if they are officially resident in those countries. If you are not an official resident, then you may vote in the country where you are an official resident. The European Commission has no control over these rules, as each country makes its own voting decisions.
To qualify, you must be an EU Citizen (national of a member state), and must be old enough to vote in the European Parliament Elections, but you do not have to be registered to vote. Anyone denied the opportunity to vote due to the 15 year rule, can now have a say!
All voting will be done online, and all votes will be verified.
When you click on the Vote Now button below, it will take you to the European Citizens’ Initiative form. The first question you will be asked is to “Select Country“. Please choose the country where you are officially registered as a resident. You will then be asked for proof of identity and advised which documents are acceptable – this will vary from country to country. Next you will be asked to identify yourself, supply your date of birth, your Nationality, and in some cases, your address. The level of information required will depend on the regulations of each EU country. You will be asked to confirm that the information you have supplied is correct and that you have read the Privacy Statement re data protection.
All you need to do now is click on the Vote Now button.
Glyn Hughes (sponsor) and our own Sue Wilson (second) have up to a year to collect the one million votes required in the referendum. Once 1,000,000 votes have been collected then Glyn and Sue will meet with the European Commission in Brussels, before being invited to present at a public hearing in the European Parliament. The Commission would then have 3 months to decide on a course of action, and to explain their reasons for their decision.
“It’s such a shame that UK citizens living in the excluded countries, like France and Portugal, will be prevented from voting due to the rules of their country of residence. What we will be asking them to do is to get their friends, family and neighbours to vote on their behalf, hopefully in very large numbers. On the plus side, it is a huge bonus that the criteria for voting is based on age, and not on being registered to vote. For those living in Europe that have been denied the opportunity to vote due to the 15 year rule, this is fantastic news. Whatever the result of the campaign, I hope at the very least that it will prove to all European governments how strongly we value our EU citizenship, and the lengths that we are prepared to go to hold onto those rights and freedoms”.
Sue Wilson – Chair
Bremain in Spain
The online referendum is to approve:
TITLE: European Free Movement Instrument
SUBJECT-MATTER: Guaranteeing European citizens free movement by a Universal Instrument
MAIN OBJECTIVES: For the better functioning of a free market, in the interest of the Union and in order to comply with the duty of care towards all its citizens, we beg the Commission to delineate a method by which all Europeans of good standing may be granted a signal and permanent instrument of their status and of their right to free movement throughout the Union by way of a unified document of laissez-passer as permitted by Article (4) of Council Regulation 1417/2013, or by another method
PROVISIONS OF THE TREATIES:
Article 45, 48, 57, 77, 78, 79 of the (Consolidated) Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
Articles 2(2), 17, 39, 42 and 63a of the Treaty of Lisbon (2007)
Article 1 of the Treaty of Amsterdam (1997)
In the Press:
The Independent 13th February 2017
Initiative launched calling for UK citizens to be issued with EU passports after Brexit
The Local.es 14th February 2017
‘Choose Freedom’: EU passport campaign launched across Europe
The Olive Press 14th February 2017
Expat campaign group Bremain In Spain demands EU passports for Brits post-Brexit
UK Citizens in Europe: Towards an Alternative White Paper on the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill
On the eve of the Government’s White Paper publication, UK citizens living in the EU present their ‘UK Citizens in Europe – Towards an Alternative White Paper’.
This is the biggest group of British citizens’ organisations in Europe working together for the first time to call for their serious concerns to be acted on before Article 50 is triggered. The groups represent thousands of British citizens living and working across the continent.
‘UK Citizens in Europe – Towards an Alternative White Paper’ sets out clear concerns about being able to live, work, run a business or study in the European countries where many have made lives for themselves and their families.
Authors, Jane Golding and Jeremy Morgan QC added:
“Following the Supreme Court ruling, UK MPs have both the opportunity and the clear responsibility to make approval of the bill to trigger Article 50 conditional on safeguarding the rights and livelihoods of over a million UK citizens living in Europe (as well as around 3 million EU citizens in the UK). This should happen at the earliest opportunity.” (J.Golding)
“Our paper shows that the complex position of individuals who have moved to another EU country. It is clear that unless all rights are preserved, many people will have no choice but to give up their homes and their lives and return to their country of origin” (J.Morgan)
The signatories of the Alternative White Paper are:
For further information or to speak to the authors contact:
Jane Golding +49 171 1487159 jama.golding-wilkens@t-online.de
Jeremy Morgan +39 368 8714943 jeremymorganit@gmail.com
Daniel Tetlow: +49 1573 370 4205 daniel@kamanga.net
We are pushing for amendment NC99 for Parliamentary approval of the final terms of withdrawal from the EU.
This would give MPs a meaningful vote when they actually know the terms of the Brexit deal.
At the moment, all The Prime Minister has offered is: accept whatever deal we come back with or leave with nothing. We believe that Parliament should be firmly in control of the process, and should have the final say on the exit terms.
Email your MP – TODAY!
We need you to make sure your MP knows about the amendments to keep Parliament in control of the Brexit process.
An an example of the kind of email or letter you could send is available on the Represent Us website HERE
A national march to Parliament
March 25th 2017 11am – 6pm
Park Lane / Hyde Park
London
Unite for Europe is being organised by a collaboration between several pro-EU groups, representing a broad spectrum across the UK and also expatriates.
For more information see the dedicated Unite for Europe Event Facebook Page
Website: http://www.uniteforeurope.org/
Email: unite.for.europe@gmail.com
Twitter: @uniteforeurope
We want to remain in the European Union!
We value the peace, friendships, relationships, rights, business & academic collaborations, economic prosperity and outward-looking attitude that European Union membership delivers; it’s best for the UK.
We can embolden our elected representatives. The vast majority of our MPs support our membership of the European Union, but they need to know that we still do too – and just how many votes there are in adopting a pro-EU position. There is a long, unpredictable, road ahead that Parliament will have some (hopefully much!) control over; with our vocal support, they can stop Brexit.
We can change minds. As the damage of Brexit reveals itself over the coming months, we can help sway public opinion with our demonstration of support for the European Union and all its benefits.
We can send a message of goodwill to our European friends and neighbours.
There are two core reasons:
Unite for Europe is timed to coincide with the UK Government’s stated intention to trigger Article 50 by the end of March 2017. We anticipate that due legal and Parliamentary process will prevent this happening significantly sooner.
Everybody who wants to must be able to attend this march. March 25th allows expats and those in more far-flung regions of the UK time to arrange their transport to London. Additionally, if Unite for Europe were held sooner, the wintery weather of January and February would pose a risk to the success of the march.
We will be marching to Parliament. The exact route will be finalised when we have an indication of the number of marchers attending. The start location will be advertised on the website, on the Unite for Europe Facebook and Twitter accounts, and in the national press.
Colourful flags or banners. The more positive the better – let’s show our EU love!
Layers of clothing, including waterproofs. Wear blue and yellow! Snacks and (non-alcoholic) drinks.
You do not need to sign up to Unite for Europe. However, if you have a Facebook account, we’d love you to show your support by telling them – and others! – that you’re coming: https://www.facebook.com/events/1812530828971846/
Unite for Europe is being organised by a collaboration between several pro-EU groups, representing a broad spectrum across the UK and also expatriates. If you have any questions, suggestions, or if you or your local group would like to get involved, please contact them via:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/uniteforeurope
Website: http://www.uniteforeurope.org/
Email: unite.for.europe@gmail.com
Twitter: @uniteforeurope
🌍 A future-focused relationship with Europe is essential for growth, opportunity, and security.
Help us push for an inquiry into all the options for our future ties. Sign the petition and make your voice heard! 🇬🇧🇪🇺
Well worth a few minutes of your time
The new co-presidents of European Movmement UK @CarolineLucas and @dominicgrieve_ on why we must rebuild our ties with Europe to join again, & the current political silence on Brexit damage
via @euromove @YouTube
Why devolving control of immigration to Scotland is a realistic prospect
The food & drink industry, tourism sector, intl higher education institutions, and many of Scotland’s leading industries relied on the freedom of movement provided by EU membership
The shortest amount of time it's taken a country to join the EU is 3 years.
We are pretty much already fully aligned - We can beat that record!
We just have to press the Start button and apply.
Chop, chop, politicians - it's a representative democracy isn't it?
#RejoinEU
