UK leaves EU?

[DodgyAgent]

Shurely shome mishtake? I would have thought that people who call themselves Europeans are more likely to form relationships due to the close proximity of other people than people who are insular Unless its being arse****ed by people from a long, long way away

You still have not defined what is meant by being "european" . I can only see that it is nothing more than a badge as it means nothing. what is the defining cultural identity of "being european"?

[KentPhilip]

I vote UKIP, it's not about the money. I'd rather be poorer and out of the EU.

No I'm afraid you'll be richer and out of the EU

[darmstadt]

Another rather irrelevant figure, given that nobody here has ever said that direct expenditure to the EU budget is significant.

What we are concerned about is that some of those bigger bubbles already contain a significant EU related element too and that proportion, unless we take effective action, will grow. Education for example - in the 12 months to June 2012, 25.9 per cent had a foreign born mother. Not all EU, true, but it's certainly likely to be a significant factor. What is it going to be like finding a place for our kids in 4 years time unless we invest heavily?

Better have a word with Nigel Farrage about that then as he has 2 children to a foreign born mother, maybe he could answer the question...

[darmstadt]

You still have not defined what is meant by being "european" . I can only see that it is nothing more than a badge as it means nothing. what is the defining cultural identity of "being european"?

So what are you, British or English? What is the cultural identity of being British?

[Mich the Tester]

There is nothing left to feel British about

Trains and water belong to the French and Germans.

Government run by the bankers, bankers are .... I dare not say.

Did the EU do that to Britain?

[Mich the Tester]

Not what the BBC/Guardian are reporting:

The French consulate in London estimates between 300,000 and 400,000 French citizens live in the British capital
BBC News - London, France's sixth biggest city

An astonishing 273,654 German-born people are now living here
Britain's German-born population prefers life under the radar | UK news | The Guardian

Do you have a problem with this?

[Mich the Tester]

So if it came to the UK leaving the EU, and consequently my leaving the UK, how could I keep my EU citizenship?

Anyway, back to the important question here instead of the binary minded pro/anti guff; 'how would I keep my EU citizenship', you can find out whether you're eligible for naturalisation where you're living now; the information provided by that country's government will name various criteria which may turn out to apply or not to apply to you if; a) you speak to a specialised immigration lawyer and b) you are a highly skilled person with no criminal record. Some EU countries have attempted to ban dual citizenship (NL has brought in restrictions) but the UK hasn't and no other country has jurisdiction over British citizenship anyway. I've been advised by an immigration lawyer that you can relinquish British citizenship, request it back and get it back with no questions asked, once and once only. You only declare to the Dutch authorities that you're relinquishing British citizenshp; you don't actually neessarily do so. He also told me that passports surrendered to the Dutch authorities during the naturalisation procedure are sent to the British consulate (as the Dutch government are legally obliged to return property of HM government to HM government), and are then sent straight back to the holder with an invoice for postage and packing. So it seems it's still quite possible to hold dual citizenship, and that's what I plan to do, except that I plan to do it perfectly legally with the assistance of the lawyer. IF either of your parents is Irish then you're in a very good position as you can hold Irish citizenship AND British citizenship under the Anglo-Irish agreement.

For anyone other than the OP who wants to understand the logic of wanting dual citizenship, it's quite simple; most of my side of the family live in Britain, most of Lady Tester's side in NL and we both need to know that if something happens to them that requires our help, we can go and live in either country without problems. It´s a practical thing.

[Old Greg]

Anyway, back to the important question here instead of the binary minded pro/anti guff; 'how would I keep my EU citizenship', you can find out whether you're eligible for naturalisation where you're living now; the information provided by that country's government will name various criteria which may turn out to apply or not to apply to you if; a) you speak to a specialised immigration lawyer and b) you are a highly skilled person with no criminal record. Some EU countries have attempted to ban dual citizenship (NL has brought in restrictions) but the UK hasn't and no other country has jurisdiction over British citizenship anyway. I've been advised by an immigration lawyer that you can relinquish British citizenship, request it back and get it back with no questions asked, once and once only. You only declare to the Dutch authorities that you're relinquishing British citizenshp; you don't actually neessarily do so. He also told me that passports surrendered to the Dutch authorities during the naturalisation procedure are sent to the British consulate (as the Dutch government are legally obliged to return property of HM government to HM government), and are then sent straight back to the holder with an invoice for postage and packing. So it seems it's still quite possible to hold dual citizenship, and that's what I plan to do, except that I plan to do it perfectly legally with the assistance of the lawyer. IF either of your parents is Irish then you're in a very good position as you can hold Irish citizenship AND British citizenship under the Anglo-Irish agreement.

For anyone other than the OP who wants to understand the logic of wanting dual citizenship, it's quite simple; most of my side of the family live in Britain, most of Lady Tester's side in NL and we both need to know that if something happens to them that requires our help, we can go and live in either country without problems. It´s a practical thing.

Ireland is also generous with citizenship where an individual has one Irish grandparent. If the UK leaves the EU, that's my plan (and my wife and kids are Irish citizens as well).

[Old Greg]

Do you have a problem with this?

People need to understand what a world city (or alpha++ city to use one categorisation) means.

[Mich the Tester]

People need to understand what a world city (or alpha++ city to use one categorisation) means.

Yes, but but most of them won't.