WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT
RATIONALE
For this written assignment I decided to tackle one issue that concerns an important
group of people in my country: how could the “Brexit” affect British people living in Spain? I
decided to write about this topic because I have some British friends and I am interested in
their future in my country.
My aim in this written assignment is to explore the problems the expatriates could face
due to the “Brexit” and to share what they are more worried about.
I chose to write an article, using a semi-formal register, because I want to write a text
that can be accessible to everybody, as it happens with newspapers, and give my opinion.
The three sources I used are pieces of news, and I chose them because of the information
they give. The first one talks about the healthcare access problems that British expats could
face due to the “Brexit”. The second one talks about the fact that lots of British people have
left Spain recently. Finally, the third one talks about the support of the Spanish government to
the expats.
In addition, I also used an interview I had with a British expatriate living in Cartagena
called Elisabeth.
Words: 199
SOURCES:
•
https://www.emigrate.co.uk/news/20181226-24120_british-expat-retirees-in-europeset-to-lose-their-healthcare-rights--
•
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6109539/Thousands-British-expats-leftSpain-amid-fears-pounds-slump-against-euro.html
•
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1046257/brexit-news-spain-british-expatsholidaymakers-visa-health-care-rights-no-deal
TASK
EXPATS FACING “BREXIT”
Saturday, 3rd of November. Elizabeth goes for a walk around Cartagena, as she always
does. She is really worried, as the majority of British expats are, about her future in Spain, as
there is no news about a deal for the “Brexit”. “We have very little information about what
could happen with all the British living in Spain”, Elizabeth says.
Being realistic, the only thing that will change, in terms of bureaucracy, is their
situation. According to my third source, the Spanish government is planning to defend their
rights and ensure they will not become illegal immigrants. Thus, they will become “normal”
immigrants, like those who are not from EU countries. However, as Elizabeth says: “We are
more worried about our pensions, health care, and that kind of things. I don’t think papers will
be a problem”.
Talking about money, the possible pound devaluation due to the “Brexit” can affect
them. In fact, according to my second source, the number of British living in Spain had dropped
from 397,892 to 240,785 (a fall of 157,107) since 2013. The main reason of this “exodus” is
the pound’s slump against the euro, making life really expensive in Spain. In the words of
Elizabeth: “I have some friends who have left Spain because life is becoming too expensive
here. I have lost 120 euros per month in my pension since the referendum”.
Another important issue for Elizabeth is their health care: “One of the most important
reasons for choosing Spain as the country where I wanted to live in my years of retirement was
the great quality of its healthcare system, rated among the best in the world”, Elizabeth says.
According to my first source, expats may experience limitations on access to healthcare
services, and not being aware of what could happen with their health insurance in Spain is
something that unsettles her: “We don’t know if our health insurance will be affected by the
“Brexit”. Will our coverage be changed? Or will it remain the same? This uncertainty is killing
me”, Elizabeth declares.
In conclusion, I want to state how important is for British expats living in Spain to know
how their future will be. In the words of Elizabeth: “I hope that this situation will be clarified
soon and, hopefully, the British government and the EU will reach a favorable “Brexit” deal
for all of us”.
Words: 398