Hi,
Firstly you'll have noticed that this newsletter has changed a little.
We've switched to a new provider (which is why we haven't sent one in a while) that means it will look a little different and there will be more changes to come, but the main thing is we'll continue to bring you the relevant news for Britons living throughout Europe - especially in the nine countries covered by The Local.
It's hard to believe it's been ten years since that Brexit referendum. The anniversary has sparked a sea of coverage in the British press about what's changed since 2016 and what hasn't changed, as well as more opinion polls that suggest the vote would be different if it was held again today.
One interesting aspect of all this talk of the possibility the UK will rejoin the European Unions someday was covered by our colleagues at AFP.
The article was titled "Would the EU take Britain back?" and featured the views of many EU diplomats on that very question.
All said their countries would be ready -- in principle -- to re-tie the knot between the UK and EU.
In a polarised world, argued one, Europe had much to gain by re-admitting a nuclear power with one of the world's largest economies and a seat at the United Nations Security Council.
Some suggested however that the 27-nation bloc had managed to get more done without a difficult ex with a penchant for special requests.
"Things are easier now," said one diplomat. "We are no longer having to constantly work around opt-outs on every file. There's more cohesion".
Sebastien Maillard, of British think tank Chatham House, stressed that the EU had moved on since the divorce with the UK, but maybe British politicians had not realised to what extent.
"The UK doesn't really get the full measure of how much the EU has changed over the last 10 years," Maillard said.
READ MORE: Would the EU take Britain back?
How have lives of Britons in Europe changed since Brexit?
As we like to do on The Local, we have recently put out surveys in many of our countries (click on the links to take part), including France, Sweden, Germany, Denmark as well as Spain.
Our team in Spain heard from many readers who explained the real-life consequences Brexit has had for them.
Bill Donaldson, a 70 year old who has lived in Spain for 30 years, summed up the many downsides. He said: “It's just a constant niggle; airport queues and confusion, complications on buying/selling property and (the biggie for me) we have no right to vote in European elections."
Edward Burke, aged 73, pointed to the financial pressures of having to meet visa criteria that many Brits hoping to move to Europe since Brexit would acknowledge.
“Visa application appointments are almost impossible within the time limits. I have had to prove I have sufficient money for the non-lucrative visa", he said.
Whilst some readers said their lives had hardly changed others talked of major financial losses, relationship break-ups, loss of friends and having to sell their home they had planned to retire in.
One reader perhaps explained it perfectly when writing: “For me, it is that low level daily stress and anxiety that was never there before Brexit”.
Another simply said: "It's f**ked us". You can read the full article on Brits talking of their post-Brexit lives in Spain here.
EU changes
There are some recent changes at the EU level that Brits in Europe should know about particularly the fact that ordering parcels online from non-European Union countries like the UK will cost you a little more in future as a new EU customs duty comes into force on July 1st.
The €3 duty, which will be applied from July 1st 2026, will apply to all goods ordered online from non-EU sites.
It will be applied to packages valued less than €150 arriving in the EU from third countries.
READ MORE: EU to slap €3 customs duty on small parcels from July 1st
And big news for those who travel frequently on airlines between the UK and Europe. EU countries recently agreed on a raft of reforms around air passenger rights that covers everything from compensation for disruption to seating rules for those travelling with children.
READ MORE: What Europe's new deal for airline passenger rights means for you
Thanks for reading. I'll be back with more news for Brits in Europe next month.
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