The election of Donald Trump as President of the United States this week has brought back bitter memories of the Brexit vote earlier this year, with many comparing the two monumentous events to each other (Sarah Silverman Tweeted, ‘Brexit who?’ as the results were announced, while a viral meme shows the US one-upping the UK with Trump).
However, all hope might not be lost for Remain voters who are loathe to give up their EU passports and the benefits these hold, such as the right to live and work abroad.
Charles Goerens, MEP for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats Group in the European Parliament, has proposed a new law – Amendment 882 – that would see UK citizens who wish to retain EU citizenship able to do just that.
The new law would see Brits able to ‘opt in’ to keep their EU citizenship once the UK leaves, with all of the associated benefits.
“48% of British voters wished to remain European citizens with all the advantages that this brings,” he says on his blog. “The EU should facilitate associate voluntary EU citizenship for those who, against their will, are being stripped of their European identity. Individual EU associate citizenship could provide a practical solution for UK citizens aggrieved by Brexit. ”
So far his idea has been met with positive feedback by fellow MEPs in Brussels, but we are still a long way off seeing his solution to one of the sticking points of Brexit come to fruition, largely because it will involve complex changes to EU treaties – though this is something that will have to be done for Brexit to happen anyway.
The move comes after Gina Miller won her case at the High Court to have MPs vote on whether or not Article 50 should be triggered.