The study of EU citizens living in UK reveals ‘open wound’ left on Brexit, with respondents who speak decision I had to get out of the block. left they felt betrayed, insecure and distrustful of a country that, nevertheless, call home.
Study of EU citizens from 22 countries, who were mostly in Britannia for more more than five years after Brexit, showed a “profound and lasting impact on life and meaning of identity and affiliation of EU citizens in Great Britain,” the authors say.
” public the narrative could indicate that Brexit is over and gone and everyone has moved on”, the report says. main Author, Professor Nando Shigona of university of Birmingham. “But for EU citizens, Brexit remains open wound”.
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Study, EU citizens in The post-Brexit UK has shown that confidence is being restored in British institutions and policies will find it difficult when the “ramifications of Brexit still has such profound consequences.” on The lives of EU citizens, Sigona said.
Respondents said that Brexit had a significant impact on their view of Britannia. While 72% still felt some emotional attachment to the UK, 89% gave their opinion. of in the country was changed – 68.6% for “a great deal” or “a lot” – from the 2016 referendum.
Asked to summarize in three words up what Britain means to them, many nevertheless offered terms such as “home” and “love”, reflecting the residual power of Connections of EU citizens with the country they had made home- the message says.
However, positive responses outweighed words such as “disappointment”, “betrayal”, “sadness”, “disappointment”, “anger”, “undesirable” and “disgust”. Text responses to the survey reflected predominantly negative sentiments.
“I was in home here,” said the 43-year-old Dutchman. “After the referendum… people still ask me where I’m from and when I’m going homebut these questions have lost their innocence.” Another Dutchman, 40, said: “I moved here as part of of the same philosophy; now I feel that common the idea is gone and I feel like immigrant”.
Others said that Brexit changed them view of their country of origin: “I feel more German and more attached to Germany since 2016,” said the 45-year-old German in United Kingdom.
A lot of of 364 respondents opposed their view of their country of source with their perception of post- Brexit Britain. “I hope my country of origin will never become as unfair and xenophobic as the UK is now,” said the 62-year-old Frenchwoman.
Amazing, Brexit also apparently proved a real trigger for pro-European sentiments,” Sigona said. with more than 90% of respondents say they felt at least moderately attached to the bloc after Brexit. Suggested words in support of this feeling included “belonging”, “peace”, “freedom”, “unity”, and “movement”.
A 52-year- old french woman who returned to France, she said:took EU for granted before Brexit”, but “now known of how it is precious, even if it is not perfect.” And the 44-year-old Italian woman said she “never paid much attention to what the EU stood for.” for or what he did” but now “protects him from the lies spread by in press”.
No wonder the 96-question survey out between December 2021 and January 2022 year after graduation of transition period – found most of settled EU citizens in UK, often part of several generations of households are planned to stay. More than half had permanent legal status and more more than 30% had dual Nationality.
Of about 30% who It was changed countries after the referendum main reasons given family or partner (25%), Brexit (17%), work (16%), and study (14%) – with Brexit, which embraced many of emotional, political and practical considerations.
Among respondents in The UK, however, even if the majority held UK permanent status or citizenship, immigration and residence status was a major concern, with other status of various family members, including parents or grandma and grandpa in EU – affects family relationships and formation future plans.
There was also widespread fear that sedentary status digital-Only, with no paper confirmation. “In view of the absence of trust in UK immigration authorities, many of people I still don’t feel safe,” Sigona said. “They are also I’m worried that I won’t be able to for for example, take care for native outside United Kingdom.”
A 64-year- elderly French woman in United Kingdom for more than at the age of 40 said: “I can hardly express how it hurts me. I came to the UK in 1979 and worked in NHS. I felt betrayed, unheard, indifferent for. I started to suffer from anxiety. I decided to apply for British citizenship not because I am wanted be British but so I can sleep at night again. When I got my British passport I spat on It.”
