EU agrees visa deal for UK citizens for no-deal Brexit
The European Union has granted UK citizens the rights to travel to the European Union without a visa even in the case of a no-deal Brexit.
The proposal will allow UK citizens to visit the 26 countries of the Schengen area of the EU for up to 90 days but only if Britain grants the same concessions for EU citizens.
The European Council said in a statement: “EU ambassadors today agreed that, following Brexit, UK citizens coming to the Schengen area for a short stay (90 days in any 180 days) should be granted visa free travel.
“Ambassadors mandated the Council presidency to start negotiations with the European Parliament on this legislative proposal.
“According to EU rules, visa exemption is granted on condition of reciprocity. The government of the United Kingdom has stated that it does not intend to require a visa from EU citizens travelling to the UK for short stays.
Although the good news came with a small detail that sparked anger among UK officials, as the proposed new regulations described Gibraltar as a UK “colony”.
The regulation distinguishes between those living in Britain and those who are citizens of Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory which is now in the EU.
The footnote in the agreement read: “Gibraltar is a colony of the British Crown. There is a controversy between Spain and the United Kingdom concerning the sovereignty over Gibraltar, a territory for which a solution has to be reached in light of the relevant resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly of the United Nations.”
As a response the government spokesperson said: “Gibraltar is not a colony and it is completely inappropriate to describe in this way.
“Gibraltar is a full part of the UK family and has a mature and modern constitutional relationship with the UK. This will not change due to our exit from the EU. All parties should respect the people of Gibraltar’s democratic wish to be British.”