Make it easier for Britons to become French, says adviser

A french law professor who has acted as an official adviser to the French government on immigration and citizenship, is urging MPs to support easier access to French citizenship for Britons living in France in the run up to a potential Brexit.

This is because Brexit will mean Britons in France lose their EU citizenship – a situation which Patrick Weil wants to remedy.

German vice chancellor Sigmar Gabriel has also suggested offering dual nationality to ‘young Britons’ in Germany, who he said were ‘more clever than their bizarre political elite’.

Prof Weil, who works at the Sorbonne and Yale, strongly encourages Britons in France to apply for French nationality, but to help those established here for less than the required minimum five years he is proposing a special reduction to one year of residence.

He said: “This will give a signal of friendship towards British citizens who have created a link with France that they are welcome to keep these links and make them secure by becoming French.

“They can do this while keeping their British citizenship because France like the UK has always been very open about citizenship [as opposed to certain countries which do not allow dual nationality].

“I don’t know if it will happen, but MPs I have spoken to are interested.

“I am not speaking about changing the documents needed – I am suggesting the time requirement be reduced to one year.”

Prof Weil was formerly tasked by the government with compiling a report which led to changes in immigration and citizenship at the end of the 1990s. Now he says he is concerned about helping Britons protect themselves.

“We should not wait for reciprocity. The new British government could take a tough stance on EU citizens but that does not prevent France from showing how open it is in respect of the British,” he said.

“Otherwise they will lose the right to vote in local elections, they will lose the right to become elected council members and the status of EU citizen. I would like to prevent this and help them keep these rights. We don’t know what the final terms of the exit agreement will be, but what is sure is expats will lose EU citizenship rights even if they get the status of the Swiss or Norwegians, retaining the right to live and work in France”.

Prof Weil said he felt that Britons who have invested in their communities by becoming councillors may especially want to benefit from this.

“I know there are many of them and they would have to stand down if Britain exits.

“I am disappointed by the referendum result and still hope something may happen that will prevent a Brexit but we do have to prepare ourselves for it really happening. So far the media have mostly talked about the markets and the City and what will happen to bankers.

“But when it comes to what will happen to the citizens it seems nobody cares and I think we should care more about what happens to them.” he said.

There are precedents for France offering fast-tracks to citizenship, as it did this for Jewish and Muslim people at the time of Algerian independence.

“For those who have been here five years I suggest starting immediately as it takes time. It’s a hurdle like any application, but people should not let it frighten them. However if we can make the waiting period shorter it would be better.”