When I woke up, four years ago, on 24 june, and realized with a chill what the country had done, I experienced two sensations. The first was physical nausea, the second out-and-out rage. The country had voted for every European citizen living in the United Kingdom, including myself, to be deprived of all the rights that come with citizenship of the European Union.
European citizenship was granted to every citizen of every member state under Article 8 of the Maastricht Treaty, in 1992. So far as I can ascertain, there is no provision anywhere for the termination or removal of this citizenship. The question is, “Is european citizenship contingent on a state’s continued membership of the EU, or, once granted, is it permanent? As I’m sure you are aware, a case is going before the General Court of the Court of Justice of the European Union. It’s not clear when the case will be heard, but if the Court finds that european citizenship is permanent, it will have an enormous significance for all Britons, especially those already enjoying their rights of freedom of movement across the continent.
There is a Web site at eucitizenship.org.uk, where readers can add their name in support and make a financial donation. The campaign is, at the time of writing, in need of 3 544 signatures to reach the hoped-for 150 000. Can I urge everyone please to support them?
European Movement Mid Kent 