Freedom to travel in Europe as an EU citizen

I have just returned from Spain and I feel ready to blog for Europe with renewed conviction.  I took one of the many low cost flights to Madrid and travelled around on the wonderful, super efficient and fantastically priced rail network complete with my Tarjeta Dorada.  This card for over sixties cost a princely six euros and gives me a third off for a whole year.   How wonderful to be European.  Europe is the best continent in the world.  I don't even feel the need to justify that statement. So why would we want to distance ourselves from it?  

Let's consider ease of travel as a benefit of EU membership.

Firstly, easyJet.  The chief executive, Carolyn McCall, has suggested that Brexit could herald a return to the days when flying was “reserved for the elite”.  If you are my age you will remember those days.  European holidays were for the rich.  We went to North Wales in the car.  There's nothing wrong with North Wales of course, but more choice would have broadened the mind.  I remember too that people needed visas for most countries and there were restrictions on how much money you could take out of the country.  

Writing in the Sunday Times, McCall said: “The EU has brought huge benefits for UK travellers and businesses. Staying in the EU will ensure that they, and all of us, continue to receive them.'

McCall argued that before the EU overhauled aviation in the 1990s, flying was reserved for the elite who travelled on “government-owned airlines between state-controlled airports”.  

“As a result of Britain’s membership, the costs of flights have plummeted, while the range of destinations has soared. That’s why easyJet believes the benefits far outweigh the frustrations – and why the UK is better off as part of the EU,” she said.  

Secondly, Spain. 

Here I am in Cáceres, Extremadura.  I love Spain and can go there whenever I want, (If I have momey in the bank) thanks to my rights as an EU citizen. 

No one talks about emigration!  An estimated 5.5m British people live permanently abroad – almost one in 10 of the UK population.  760,000 of these live in Spain.  Lucky them!  I would like to live in Spain and if I decide to, as an EU citizen, no one can stop me.  However, if we vote to leave,  the Brits in Spain could lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services that are only guaranteed because of EU law.  Anyone who has lived abroad for less than 15 years, can vote in the referendum on 23 June.  To not vote to stay in would be foolhardy in the extreme.