Share your stories about visiting France under the 90/180 days rule

Campaigners for a relaxation of the EU’s 90/180 days rule for people who spend part of the year in France are looking for readers to send stories about their experiences.

The France Visa Free (FVF) group wants to show the impacts to British MPs, especially in the governing Labour Party.

Stories can be sent to us at feedback@connexionfrance.com for forwarding.

The centrist Liberal Democrats support FVF’s calls for Britons to be able to visit for up to six months visa-free, as EU citizens can visit the UK visa-free under UK immigration rules.

Group founder Steven Jolly recently met with Lib Dems EU affairs spokesman James McCleary and chief whip Wendy Chamberlain, who stressed that “to make progress it’s vital to show this campaign is about mobility for all: 90/180 affects many people and not just second-home owners”.

Responses from Labour have started to show more “understanding”, he said, however FVF continues to lobby its MPs and officials to show how addressing 90/180 is in keeping with its manifesto pledge to reset the relationship with the EU by tearing down trade barriers.

He added: “Stories that just say ‘I have a second home and pay tax’ will not win us support: we get flack from folk who accuse us of wanting exceptional treatment. What we want is fair and reciprocal mobility that recognises people have lives in more than one country and Brexit made this more difficult.

“Take for example the lorry driver with a home in France and adult children who have settled in France and Spain: he can soon find he is unable to stay in France or visit family when his 90 days are exhausted.”

A UK organisation for coach and lorry drivers, RHA, has expressed concerns about increased checking of the 90/180 days rule that will result from the new Entry/Exit System, calling for an exemption for Britons who drive professionally.