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UK Citizens Will Still Travel Visa Free Through Europe After Brexit

UK Citizens Will Still Travel Visa Free Through Europe After Brexit

Relax, people. Your holiday is safe.

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

The European Union has agreed that UK citizens will still be allowed to travel through Europe without a visa, even if the UK crashes out of the EU without a deal on 29 March.

For a short stay visit - up to 90 days out of any 180 days - Britons will still be allowed to travel throughout the EU's borderless Schengen area without a visa, European Union ambassadors agreed.

This agreement will now be passed on to the European Parliament for a vote. It is likely to pass through, as well. The European Parliament said last month that they would be in support of letting UK citizens travel without visas throughout the EU even if there was no deal in place by the time that the UK leaves.

A document that outlines the proposal reads: "Considering the geographical proximity, the link between economies, the level of trade and the extent of short-term movements of persons between the UK and the Union for business, leisure or other purposes, visa-free travel should facilitate tourism and economic activity, thereby bringing benefits to the Union."

Pick a lane...
PA

In addition to this, the UK has already agreed that EU citizens will also be able to make short term visits to the UK without a visa post-Brexit.

The European Council issued a statement that said: "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.

"In the event that the United Kingdom introduces a visa requirement for nationals of at least one-member state in the future, the existing reciprocity mechanism would apply and the three institutions and the member states would commit to act without delay in applying the mechanism."

EU and UK citizens will be able to travel both still, regardless.
PA

However, this agreement - whilst seeming to be in the best interests of all parties - isn't without controversy.

The regulation referred to Gibraltar as a 'colony'. It has been reported that the UK's ambassador to the EU raised concerns at this statement at a meeting of envoys.

A spokesperson said: "Gibraltar is not a colony and it is completely inappropriate to describe in this way."

Either way, we can all - Leave and Remain - breathe a sigh of relief. We can still get out of the country for some summer sun without hassle.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, News, Europe, travel, brexit, Politics