1. Freedom of movement and Brexit
Lesson 2
Freedom of movement and Brexit
LO: To critically evaluate the impact on British society if freedom of movement is restricted after Britain leaves the EU.
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2. Contents Background Referendum of 2016
Freedom of movement and Brexit
Contents
Background
Referendum of 2016
Consequences of withdrawal for the EU
Impact on the United Kingdom
Public opinion and comment
Cultural responses to the referendum vote
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3. How many EU nationals live in the UK?
Freedom of movement and Brexit
How many EU nationals live in the UK?
1.5 million
2.9 million
3.7 million
4.2 million
b) 2.9 million
Thinking point:
Is this higher or lower than you thought?
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4. Which European country has the most citizens living in the UK?
Freedom of movement and Brexit
Which European country has the most citizens living in the UK?
Romania
France
Ireland
Poland
Thinking point:
Does this surprise you? Which country had you initially thought of?
d) Poland
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5. Which European country has the most British citizens living there?
Freedom of movement and Brexit
Which European country has the most British citizens living there?
Italy
France
Spain
Poland
Thinking point:
Does this surprise you? Which country had you initially thought of? c)
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6. A brief History of the EU
Freedom of movement and Brexit
A brief History of the EU
23rd June 2016
UK voted to leave the EU in a referendum
29th March 2017
UK triggers Article 50 and starts official negotiations for withdrawal from the EU.
The Treaty of Paris is signed between Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom join the EEC.
1957
1951
1973
2016/17
Over the next 40 years….
A further 19 countries join the EEC/EU and together work on areas such as the environment, transport, security and employment.
These 6 countries agreed to make trade easier by cutting custom duties and tariffs eventually setting up a “common market”.
They became known as the ‘European Economic Community’ (EEC) which later became the European Union (EU).
The EU formed after the end of WW2 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. The aim of the EU was to prevent such a conflict from happening again, by encouraging countries to work together towards greater economic and political stability.
Common market – Obstacles to free trade are removed between members of the EU e.g. there is no imposition of extra taxes for trying to sell products to different countries.
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7. As part of the EU, the UK accepts the ‘4’ freedoms
Freedom of movement and Brexit
As part of the EU, the UK accepts the ‘4’ freedoms
Freedom of movement for persons
Freedom of movement for goods
Freedom of movement for services
Freedom of movement for capital
The 4 freedoms are part of what is known as the ‘Single Market’.
Can you think of why the ‘Single Market’ is called this?
Teachers notes:
The aim of the single market and the 4 freedoms is to make it as easy to trade between London and Lisbon as it is between London and Liverpool. So having the single market removes barriers to trade and they harmonise, or unify, national rules at EU level. However the four freedoms are not all equal. Services are far less ‘free’ than goods, for example.
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8. Freedom of movement of people
Freedom of movement and Brexit
Freedom of movement of people
The right to live in any EU member state.
Your family members and pets also have the right to join you in other member EU countries.
This is not just for workers: You have the right to live anywhere in the EU if you are studying, volunteering or retired.
As an UK national, you still need to show your national ID card or passport when you are travelling from one EU country to another.
26 countries decided that you would not need to show a passport or your ID to enter them, this is called the Schengen agreement.
The countries that require you to show your passport or ID to enter them are: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania, United Kingdom.
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9. Freedom of movement and Brexit
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10. Consequences of withdrawal from the EU
Freedom of movement and Brexit
Consequences of withdrawal from the EU
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11. Freedom of movement and Brexit
Economic
In the UK, fruit and vegetables on farms are mostly picked by EU workers during the summer. Since Brexit, there has been a drop in the number of workers. Q: What will the impact of this be both now and in the future?
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12. Political- The Irish border issue
Freedom of movement and Brexit
Political- The Irish border issue
Northern Ireland and Ireland are part of the EU. Northern Ireland is also part of the UK and when the UK leaves the EU, so will Northern Ireland.
Currently there is free movement of people between Ireland and Northern Ireland with people working and living in the different countries, thanks to the Common Travel Area agreed between the UK and Ireland before either joined the EU.
 There are worries about maintaining peace and stability in Northern Ireland if a clear decision is not made about this border post Brexit.
Q: As a result of Brexit new immigration restrictions may affect freedom of movement of people. For example, residents from the Republic of Ireland could be required to apply for a visa in order to live or work in Northern Ireland. Do you think this is fair?
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13. Cultural
Freedom of movement and Brexit
Brexit will result in the end of freedom of movement for EU citizens. Over time we may have fewer EU citizens coming to live in the UK. In the last 12 months annual net migration of EU nationals to the UK has fallen by 75,000 – although the total net migration is still higher than at any time in the last 5 years. Q: How will this impact British society? Q: Does it benefit us to have other cultures present in the UK? Q: What problems may be caused by having large numbers of EU citizens living in the UK?
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14. What are different thoughts about migration and Brexit?
Freedom of movement and Brexit
What are different thoughts about migration and Brexit?
Economy
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15. Where do you stand? I agree with the government’s suggested proposal
Freedom of movement and Brexit
I agree with the government’s suggested proposal
I am unsure about the government’s suggested proposal
I disagree with the government’s suggested proposal
Where do you stand?
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