A small group of Brits from the Ulm and Stuttgart area got together in the Schloessle Brauerei in Neu-Ulm on Friday September 1st to discuss Brexit, the personal impact on them and we exchanged ideas, experiences and useful addresses.
While the campaigning / lobbying side is seen as very important, the focus was more on understanding each persons situation and options as we go forward.
We borrowed heavily on the experience and knowledge of the Munich group. I think everyone found it helpful in clarifying the options and understanding the potential implications of Brexit on all.
We need to see what the demand is like, but we will pencil in another event in about a month.
Brexit in Bayern – Information, action and support
A new monthly Meetup group has started in Bavaria, set up by the Munich section of British in Germany. We offer information, action and support for anyone affected by Brexit. Come along and talk about what´s on your mind over a glass of beer. Find out the facts, plan your strategy, discuss the progress of the negotiations.
The first Brexit in Bayern Meetup is on Monday, 7 August.
Subsequent meetups take place on the first Monday of every month.
www.meetup.com/Brexit-in-Bayern/
(See also the Events section of this website)
[Scroll down for German version / Siehe unten für deutsche Fassung]
Brits in Bavaria protest outside Davis’ meeting with Seehofer. Photo: Rob Harrison.
A group of about 20 Brits gathered in the pouring rain outside the Bavarian State Chancellery in Munich yesterday (July 26) to express our dissatisfaction about the Brexit negotiations. Inside were Bavaria´s Minister-President Horst Seehofer and David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the EU. What was on the agenda is not known – the press had not been invited and no statement was issued. And the meeting was only announced very shortly before it took place, so the Brits in Munich had little time to get a protest together. The message on their quickly produced posters: Talk to us! Save our EU rights! The UK and EU flags, flying together in the wind, spoke their own language.
Brits in Europe – our concerns in a nutshell. Who is listening? Photo: Rob Harrison.
Disenfranchisement: Perhaps the No. 1 irritant for Brits abroad. And still no solution in sight. Photo: Rob Harrison
British in Bavaria sending a message in semaphore to Seehofer and Davis as they meet in the Bavarian State Chancellery on July 26, 2017. Photo: Rob Harrison.
Over 18,000 Brits live and work in Bavaria, and so far there has been very little consultation with us, from either the UK or the German authorities on our concerns as regards Brexit. We would welcome an opportunity – in the dry – to present our views in person.
Minister-President of Bavaria, Horst Seehofer, presents David Davis with a porcelain white lion on the occasion of his visit to Munich on 26 July 2017. Photo: Bayerische Staatskanzlei.
Bei strömendem Regen versammelte sich eine Gruppe von bis zu 20 Briten gestern vor der bayerischen Staatskanzlei, um ihrem Unmut über die Brexitverhandlungen Luft zu lassen. Drinnen saßen Ministerpräsident Seehofer und David Davis, Britischer Minister für den Austritt Großbritanniens aus der EU, zu einem nicht öffentlichen und sehr kurzfristig angekündigten Besuch. Die Botschaft auf den Plakaten der versammelten britischen Bürger in Bayern: Reden Sie mit uns! 18.000 Briten leben und arbeiten in Bayern, und sie sehen ihre EU-Rechte in Gefahr. Die hoch gehaltenen Flaggen sprachen eine unmißverständliche Sprache – sie wollen in der EU bleiben. Die Gruppe erweckte die Aufmerksamkeit der vielen vorbeifahrenden Autofahrer, die ihre Unterstützung mit lautem Hupen signalisierten. Der Gast aus Westminster und der Ministerpräsident haben den Protest sicherlich auch bemerkt, und die Briten hoffen nun auf eine baldige Einladung ins Trockene, wo sie ihre Sorgen und Ängste näher besprechen können.
One week after publication of the UK’s disappointing policy paper on citizens’ rights, an audience of 52 Brits in Munich quizzed the HM Consul-General for southern Germany on the UK’s position. Here’s our report on the evening, which contains direct quotes from the C-G.
On 12 June, following the UK General elections, Munich-based Brits got together in true Bavarian style, to discuss the surprising result. Hope was high that the results now mark at least a change in the tone of the debate, if not (yet) in actual direction.
Notes were also compared on citizenship applications, UK pensions and the impact on careers.
British in Europe representatives met with the German Foreign Ministry on Wednesday 7th June and had an open discussion and dialogue with promise of further dialogue.
The German Foreign Ministry, British in Europe and the3million have tweeted below:
Lively discussions between company owners, managers, IT specialists, musicians, construction engineers, teachers, translators, patent attorneys, accountants and actuaries. Photo: Dominik Gigler.Businessmen exchange views on the impact of Brexit on their Munich-based companies. Photo: Dominik Gigler.
A British retiree, whose son has mental health problems and is in care, explains her worries to the reporter. Photo: Dominik Gigler.
By Ingrid Taylor
After two ‘Brexit Countdown’ evenings, it was time for a follow-up ‘Brexit Stammtisch’ to discuss all the events of recent weeks. On Monday, May 8th, a group of around 50 British professionals met to take stock. In a government declaration in the Bundestag, Angela Merkel herself had welcomed the contribution of British people to German society, and said we should stay. And the EU27 is also supporting our interests, as evidenced in their recently published draft negotiating guidelines (the content of which owes much to the efforts of the British in Europe Coalition). But we are still waiting for positive signals from across the Channel….
Everyone was encouraged to lobby local, national and European politicians, including those in the UK, in order to raise our concerns with those who have influence. A plea was also made for everyone who has a vote in the UK election to use it (with details of how to get your overseas vote on this website). Lawyer David Hole explained the nuances of acquired rights and the different interpretations on what might happen to these rights, and the serious implications of their loss for UK citizens living in the EU27. Rob Harrison outlined the Coalition´s various initiatives and activities. And Monika Haines reported on her survey of local companies, aimed at finding out what their plans are as regards their British employees post-Brexit.
Guardian Brexit journalist Lisa O’Carroll came along to report on the event; she highlighted a number of the issues covered, and interviewed individuals about their concerns.
70 British residents of Munich and the surrounding area came together on 27th March evening to review their options on the eve of Article 50 being triggered on the 29th March. (Photos of event below) The event aimed to provide information and an opportunity for all Brits living in the area to discuss the prospect of Brexit and the impact it may have on British citizens living in Germany. David Hole (solicitor and Rechtsanwalt) detailed the rights possibly at risk and potential scenarios. Ingrid Taylor (translator and teacher of German) reported on the work of the British in Europe Coalition, and set out what was involved in applying for German citizenship. Taylor said:
“The urgency in submitting citizenship applications soon must be underlined, as the waiting time in Munich to get an appointment to hand in the completed application is 8 months. It then takes the authorities a further 6 – 9 months to process the application. The clock is therefore ticking for those who want to obtain German citizenship ahead of Brexit and still retain their UK citizenship, i.e. dual citizenship. After Brexit, it is unlikely that both will be possible; it will be one or the other“
Due to the level of interest a second Brexit Countdown Event is being held in Munich on Monday, April 3rd. See details below:
David Hole and Ingrid Taylor – Organisers of the Munich meeting
