Come tutti sappiamo il 23 giugno 2016 c’è stato un referendum nel Regno Unito, per decidere se esso doveva lasciare o restare nell’Unione Europea. Il 51,9% degli inglesi ha deciso di distaccarsi dall’ Unione Europea.Cosa cambierà? Avrà delle influenti conseguenze sulla carriera dei giovani? Sarà più complicato per noi viaggiare verso l’Inghilterra?

On 23 June 2016 a referendum was held to decide whether the UK should remain in the European Union or leave it. More than 30 million people voted and Leave won by 51.9% to 48.1%.

A new word was created – Brexit –, which is a short way of saying, “the UK leaving the EU” by mixing the words Britain and Exit. But what does Brexit actually mean and how will it affect us all?

The European Union is a club of 28 European Countries. Each of these countries pays to be a member and in return, they get access to special ways of working together. This includes being part of a “single market”, which means that countries can trade with one another and people can move around freely – as if we were all living together in one big country.

The EU has its own parliament, laws and currency (the euro – although the UK does not use this as we stuck to our own pounds and pence). The EU was set up after World War 2 with the idea that if countries work together, they are unlikely to go to war again.

The 48 per cent who voted to remain in the EU, including former Prime Minister David Cameron, felt that being a member of a 28-nation club is better than going it alone. They felt it was easier for us to sell things to other EU countries, meaning it was good for businesses and trade.

So why did over half of voters (51.9 %) in the UK want to leave this special club?

The idea of the single market was to increase trade between countries, creating jobs and lowering prices. However, the European Parliament decides on many rules and standards that EU countries have to follow and critics felt that they were losing control of their own affairs and laws.

The UK pays billions of pounds in membership fees to the EU every year and some people felt that they weren’t getting much back in return for this.

Also, many people are moving from poorer countries to richer countries around the world. This has made some people in the UK worry about the free movement rule, which allows people in the EU to move to any other EU country without needing special permission (a visa). This was a key issue for many voters and the Leave campaign won by just 4 per cent.

Will young people still be able to get jobs in Europe?

Britain’s membership of the EU means that citizens are able to live and work anywhere within the 28 countries of the EU and they do not need any special visa.

How will it affect young people wanting to study at universities in Europe?

Some young Britons have responded by choosing to study at significantly cheaper European universities, particularly in the Netherlands and Germany. More than 15,000 British students also study in Europe as part of the Erasmus scheme.

After March 2019, students could still study outside the EU but it may be harder to get visas and fees may be more expensive.

What did Prime Minister Theresa May say to reassure EU citizens?

Prime Minister Theresa May issued a direct appeal to EU citizens living in the UK to stay in the country after Brexit.EU citizens and their family members living in the UK must apply to the for settled status. Settled status means that you can live in the UK for as long as you want. You will have access to public funds and services and you can apply for British citizenship. Any children born in the UK after you get settled status will automatically be British citizens.

She agreed that any EU citizen arriving between March 2019 and 2021 will have a right to residency.

They will get a “lifetime right” to bring in their entire close family, kids, spouse, parents, grandparents – even if they are outside the EU.

They can also bring in their girlfriend or boyfriend – a “durable partner” if they can prove they have been together for two years.

Children born in the UK to parents from the EU will automatically become British citizens.

Irish citizens will not have their rights affected by Brexit and will always be able to live and work in Britain freely.

Will they need visas to work there?

EU citizens will still be able to travel to and live in Britain after Brexit under new immigration plans.

What does this mean for EU citizens living in the UK?

The report confirms that EU and UK citizens have free movement of rights until the day the UK withdraws from the EU – 29 March 2019. This, in effect, is the cut-off date for EU citizens moving to the UK.

Anyone who arrives before Brexit day will have the right to stay.

Those who are yet to be granted permanent residency in the UK will have their rights protected, so they can still acquire it after withdrawal.

EU citizens in the UK will have equal access to social security, health care, education and employment.

But they – and UK citizens in the EU – would lose their rights to residency if they are out of the country for five or more years.

Passport or not after Brexit?

The UK is still in the EU, but not in the Schengen area, so you will have to show your passport on entry. The fact that you are an EU citizen means that you will not need a visa.

After 29 March 2019:

  1. You should have at least 6 months left on your passport from your date of arrival. This applies to adult and child passports.
  2. If you renewed a 10 year adult passport before it expired, extra months may be added to your new passport’s expiry date, making it valid for more than 10 years. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months that should be remaining to travel to most countries in Europe.