In the wake of Britain’s vote to leave the European Union there’s been much speculation about what this means for people currently living abroad in European countries. Germany’s Vice Chancellor and economy minister, Sigmar Gabriel, has spoken out about the implications of Brexit for Britain’s young people. He has said that he will raise the issue of dual citizenship, which is not generally given by Germany to non-EU citizens, during the country’s national elections next year.
When David Cameron spoke on the morning that the results of the EU referendum were announced, before he resigned as Prime Minister, he said that he wanted to reassure British citizens living abroad that their circumstances would not change ‘immediately’. However, what happens in coming weeks and months is still uncertain.
In light of this uncertainty and the complete power vacuum currently playing out in Britain Gabriel said: ‘it’s a good sign that the youth of Great Britain are more clever than their bizarre political elite. For that reason, we can’t raise our drawbridge on them. We have to think now about what we can offer Great Britain’s younger generation.’ Germany, in particular Berlin, is often hailed as the go-to destination for young Brits who can’t afford to live in London.
Gabriel was speaking at a Social Democratic party meeting in Berlin this weekend when he suggested that Germany should offer citizenship to ‘young Britons living in Germany, Italy of France so that they can remain EU citizens.’
His suggestion of offering citizenship to young UK citizens currently living in the EU comes as there is great confusion about what Brexit will mean for EU nationals currently living in the UK. Just this weekend, speaking on ITV’s Peston on Sunday the Home Secretary, Theresa May, who’s currently running for leader of the Conservative Party refused to rule out the deportation of EU nationals currently living in the UK.
In contrast Yvette Cooper, former Shadow Home Secretary, has said ‘the prime minister must not wait to sort this as it is causing great anxiety for EU citizens living here and British citizens living abroad.’
We’re getting rather used to not being able to offer you straight answers when it comes to Brexit, as our politicians continue to disagree on what it actually means.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.