Dubai - Brit expats react to the question: Should UK remain in the European Union or not?
Published: Sat 20 Feb 2016, 11:00 PM
Last updated: Mon 22 Feb 2016, 7:30 AM
Though UK expatriates in the UAE seem split on the decision of whether the UK should remain in the European Union (EU) or not, it seems they all agree on one thing - the importance of voting in the upcoming EU Referendum, whether living overseas or not.
"I have registered to vote on the EU referendum and I will be voting that the UK leaves the EU," British business owner, Jen Wilson, told Khaleej Times.
But for Mitch Don Freeley, a Qatar resident holidaying in Dubai, he'll be registering his vote online to keep the UK in the EU.
Brit expats of UAE looking to vote overseas
When: EU referendum expected to be held June-end this year
Requirement: You must have been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years.
Register online: At www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
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On Friday, British Prime Minister David Cameron negotiated a package of changes to the UK's relationship with the EU.
This included changes to child benefits, whereby payments to some migrant workers will be reduced to match the rate paid in their home country.
But one of the biggest victories for Cameron was the seen-year enactment of the 'emergency brake'. This new deal will allow him to reduce in-work benefits for EU migrants for up to seven years, but it can only be applied in the event of exceptional levels of migration. Previously this 'brake' was redeemable for four years only.
As well as ensuring Britain keeps the pound while being in Europe, Cameron said this EU deal - which will come into effect only if the UK stays in the EU - gives the UK "special status".
But for Freeley, this new agreement goes against the whole meaning of what an economic and political partnership like the EU stands for.
"My view is that we should be part of the EU. We as a country should help others in need. To have a special status is against the principles of the EU itself. I will be voting to stay in the EU."
British expat Benoit Gilbey, agrees with Freeley.
"I am pro EU. I think it is important for the UK to stay in it because we are one of the key players and I think that sentiment is shared by many, including the heads of many of the other EU member states," Gilbey said.
The EU, which is made up of 28 European countries, was established to foster economic cooperation, with the idea that countries which trade together are less likely to go to war with each other.
In laymen's terms, the EU acts as one country, allowing goods and people to move around it freely.
Details of new EU deal for BritainEuro Future EU treaty amendments
> A special exemption for Britain from further political integration under "ever closer union"
> Elements of an accord to ensure fair treatment of financial and economic arrangements between the euro zone and non-euro EU states
In-Work benefits
> Britain will be entitled to deny in-work benefits to newly arrived workers from other EU states for their first four years in the country;
> It will be able to apply this "emergency brake" to new arrivals during a seven-year period.
Child Benefit
> An European Union-wide indexation system affecting payments of child benefit to workers whose children live in another EU state comes into force for new claimants immediately and for all claimants on Jan. 1, 2020.
Euro Ins and Outs
> The draft stressed the need for a "level playing field" in financial and banking regulation. > It gives Britain the right to super-vise financial institutions and markets to preserve financial stability.
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Max migrants taken in by UK
However for Wilson, the sooner the UK is out of the EU the better.
"It's clear it does not operate fairly. The UK has taken more migrants than any other country and regardless of the new agreement on the seven year hiatus on benefits, this will not curb migrants from passing through other European counties to get to the UK."
She believes many migrants are not moving to countries for safety, but more for money.
"These are economic migrants who are here to abuse a system which is set up to protect the British people. I have registered to vote on the EU referendum and will be voting we leave."
Wilson is not opposed to countries taking in migrants as it is their "responsibility to take in genuine immigrants", however she does pose one question.
"I fail to understand why we are only taking Syrian refugees, what about families who for years have been suffering civil war in Africa?"
And for British expatriate, Joe Butler, being in the EU would further dilute the UK's already flailing identity. However these new agreements from Cameron could help claw some of that identity back.
'UK lost its identity long back'
"As far as I'm concerned I feel the UK lost its identity a long time ago. I'm not against helping migrants or anyone from out of the UK whatever their issue, culture or status, but a line must be drawn. There's only so much you could/should do and a lot of hard working British citizens feel like they are forgotten about."
Though happy to extend a helping hand, Butler feels it should be the country's people who are supported first before anyone else.
"Where is the help for university graduates that get into £20,000 worth of debt for an education, to then only struggle to secure an under paid position and dream that one day they might be able to save £30,000 for a deposit on a one-bed flat. In the meantime, people are welcomed into the UK with open arms and basically given a life of royalty well above their own standards."
kelly@khaleejtimes.com
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