EXPATS FIGHTING for a vote in British General Elections have won an important ally in Viviane Reding, the Vice President of the European Commission.
She has promised to work towards EU citizens keeping the right to take part in the democratic process of their home countries – saying they are being “punished” for choosing to use the bloc’s right to freedom of movement.
Ms Reding, who is also the EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights, and Citizenship, made her standpoint as 91-year-old Harry Shindler lost his court case against the British Government after becoming disenfranchised through current laws.
At present British citizens lose their right to vote in UK elections after 15 years of emigrating. Harry, who lives in Italy, took the matter to the European Court of Human Rights but failed to convince the court. He now plans to take the matter to the United Nations Court of Justice.
It is understood 5.5 million British people live abroad – many within Europe where it is estimated some 13.6 million EU citizens live in a member state that is not their homeland.
And in the Year of the EU Citizen, Ms Reding believes citizens should have a voice in their own country.
She said: “To strengthen citizens’ participation in the democratic process, we will work on ways to enable EU citizens to keep their right to vote in national elections in their country of origin.
PUNISH
“The practice in some member states of depriving their citizens of their right to vote once they move to another EU country (disenfranchisement) is effectively tantamount to punishing citizens for having exercised their right to free movement.”
Brian Cave, a campaigner for pensioners’ right based in France, said: “Harry Shindler fought and fights on for this right and clearly Viviane Reding agrees with him. The European Court of Human Rights did not agree!”
He said Ms Reding outlined it was a “necessity” to allow people to vote for their national parliaments.
And Brian said: “The EU is a kind of network of nations, each person relates to their nation of origin as well as their local state of residence. This cross binding binds the EU.
“A British person travelling abroad is an ambassador of Britain. It is logical that he or she has a right to have an opinion in both camps – just as a Pole of German living in Britain should enjoy the right to an opinion in both countries.
“For now, it is pressingly important that Britons have the right to vote for representation in the Westminster Parliament.”
She has promised to work towards EU citizens keeping the right to take part in the democratic process of their home countries – saying they are being “punished” for choosing to use the bloc’s right to freedom of movement.
Ms Reding, who is also the EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights, and Citizenship, made her standpoint as 91-year-old Harry Shindler lost his court case against the British Government after becoming disenfranchised through current laws.
At present British citizens lose their right to vote in UK elections after 15 years of emigrating. Harry, who lives in Italy, took the matter to the European Court of Human Rights but failed to convince the court. He now plans to take the matter to the United Nations Court of Justice.
It is understood 5.5 million British people live abroad – many within Europe where it is estimated some 13.6 million EU citizens live in a member state that is not their homeland.
And in the Year of the EU Citizen, Ms Reding believes citizens should have a voice in their own country.
She said: “To strengthen citizens’ participation in the democratic process, we will work on ways to enable EU citizens to keep their right to vote in national elections in their country of origin.
PUNISH
“The practice in some member states of depriving their citizens of their right to vote once they move to another EU country (disenfranchisement) is effectively tantamount to punishing citizens for having exercised their right to free movement.”
Brian Cave, a campaigner for pensioners’ right based in France, said: “Harry Shindler fought and fights on for this right and clearly Viviane Reding agrees with him. The European Court of Human Rights did not agree!”
He said Ms Reding outlined it was a “necessity” to allow people to vote for their national parliaments.
And Brian said: “The EU is a kind of network of nations, each person relates to their nation of origin as well as their local state of residence. This cross binding binds the EU.
“A British person travelling abroad is an ambassador of Britain. It is logical that he or she has a right to have an opinion in both camps – just as a Pole of German living in Britain should enjoy the right to an opinion in both countries.
“For now, it is pressingly important that Britons have the right to vote for representation in the Westminster Parliament.”
THE RUSSIANS are certainly coming and making the Costa Blanca their second or first homes. With almost 5,000 Russian Residents on the Padron, Russians now are the second largest nationality after the British but probably the most proactive when it comes to visiting and buying homes in the region.
Last week, Torrevieja’s Councilor for Tourism, Luis Maria Pizana, said that a total of 30 travel agents from the Versa Russian tour operator, visited the city of Torrevieja and enjoyed visiting the floating museums located in the port area, the seafront, the Cultural Society Casino of Torrevieja, Municipal Water Mill, La Mata Beach, took a boat ride along the coast and visited the downtown area.
These familiarization trips (Fam Trips) are organized by the Provincial Tourism Office of the Costa Blanca, in collaboration with the Municipality of Torrevieja, the Spanish Tourist Office in Moscow, the Ministry of Tourism, in order to attract more Russian tourists to the area through the Versa tour operator.
Versa offers two weekly flights between Alicante and St. Petersburg during the summer season, so these agents know first hand the opportunities of the Costa Blanca has to offer.
Closing this busy schedule, on Monday May 20, Turismo de Torrevieja attend ed a Workshop in Calpe, to raise further awareness of the city of Torrevieja and what’s on offer to the agents of this tour operator.
Last week, Torrevieja’s Councilor for Tourism, Luis Maria Pizana, said that a total of 30 travel agents from the Versa Russian tour operator, visited the city of Torrevieja and enjoyed visiting the floating museums located in the port area, the seafront, the Cultural Society Casino of Torrevieja, Municipal Water Mill, La Mata Beach, took a boat ride along the coast and visited the downtown area.
These familiarization trips (Fam Trips) are organized by the Provincial Tourism Office of the Costa Blanca, in collaboration with the Municipality of Torrevieja, the Spanish Tourist Office in Moscow, the Ministry of Tourism, in order to attract more Russian tourists to the area through the Versa tour operator.
Versa offers two weekly flights between Alicante and St. Petersburg during the summer season, so these agents know first hand the opportunities of the Costa Blanca has to offer.
Closing this busy schedule, on Monday May 20, Turismo de Torrevieja attend ed a Workshop in Calpe, to raise further awareness of the city of Torrevieja and what’s on offer to the agents of this tour operator.
IT’S NOT often that the Cultural Centre auditorium of the Virgen del Carmen is standing room only, but such was case on Sunday when it became too small to accommodate the many members and supporters of the Partido Popular. The occasion was the act of proclamation of the new Executive Committees of the PP in Torrevieja.
The packed audience were introduced to the new executive members of the PP committees and the proclamation of the new president of New Generations (NN.GG.) Torrevieja PP, Adrian Ballester, who takes over from José Manuel Pizana. The event involved, in this order, NN.GG. Provincial President Luis Maria Pizana, the new local president NN.GG., Adrian Ballester, NN.GG. Regional President, Juan Carlos Caballero, PP local president and mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolon, and PP Provincial President, José Císcar.
The packed audience were introduced to the new executive members of the PP committees and the proclamation of the new president of New Generations (NN.GG.) Torrevieja PP, Adrian Ballester, who takes over from José Manuel Pizana. The event involved, in this order, NN.GG. Provincial President Luis Maria Pizana, the new local president NN.GG., Adrian Ballester, NN.GG. Regional President, Juan Carlos Caballero, PP local president and mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolon, and PP Provincial President, José Císcar.
