Brexit updates for Britons in France this November

Britons’ rights lost

Britons do lose EU citizenship due to Brexit, the Cour de Cassation has ruled – the first time a top national appeal court has said this.

Julien Fouchet, of Cornille Pouyanne Fouchet barristers in Bordeaux, was representing a Briton from Nouvelle- Aquitaine who has lived in France for 13 years and says it is harmful to lose his EU citizenship, including voting rights, due to Brexit.

Ruling on whether it was fair for him to have been struck off the electoral list, the court said EU citizenship depends on being a national of an EU state, so the Briton had “lost his EU citizenship”.

Mr Fouchet is still pursuing the loss of citizenship issue in a case with the European Court of Justice and hopes for a judgment imminently.

Travel healthcare

Britons living in France benefiting from the Withdrawal Agreement (WA) deal can still use their French CEAM travellers’ health cards in the UK in future, the EU confirmed to The Connexion.

It is not clear how this will work in practice but showing a Brexit residency card may help prove the rights.

How to apply for the French Brexit residency card

Barring an agreement to the contrary, the EHIC system will otherwise not function between the UK and EU from January, with the exception of British EHICs of UK pensioners in France benefiting from the WA, which should also still maintain validity.

Pensions payments

British civil service pensions may be paid into a foreign bank account, the UK Treasury has confirmed in answer to a parliamentary question from MP Sir Roger Gale. It had been thought all “government” pensions might have to be paid into a UK account.

Flight rules unsure

Rules governing flights between the UK and EU have still not been finalised, the UK’s transport minister admitted during an online meeting with the travel agency sector in the UK. He said there is “broad agreement” that operators from the two sides should be able to continue providing services between them and he expects the EU to impose contingency measures if negotiations are incomplete. Travel body ABTA expressed “concern” about the uncertainty.

UK phone charges

UK telecoms firms have no plans to bring back roaming charges for using phones in the EU, the UK government says – but there is nothing to stop them doing so later. There will also be no more obligatory caps on costs of calling or texting the EU from the UK from January.

Related stories

Residency card application Q&A: Your questions answered

Banks must ensure Britons in France aware of Brexit risks

Britons in France face visas to study abroad in Europe