British Ambassador to France: Covid and climate high hopes
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British Ambassador to France: Covid and climate high hopes
Every month the British Ambassador to France, Ed Llewellyn, shares an insight into his role. Here, read his column for February 2021
26 January 2021
New rules, continuity and high hopes on coronavirus and climate in the ambassador s column for February 2021By Ed Llewellyn
Happy New Year! Although this is my first printed column of the year, it’s not quite my first appearance in Connexion in 2021. I hope some of you may have seen my online interview, in which I discussed our exit from the EU and the changes we will see in Britain’s relationship with the EU and France.
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It’s been an area of hot discussion in recent weeks as the UK gets used to its new post-Brexit reality, where the freedom to live, work and settle in the EU is no longer an enshrined right.
Here, PIT takes a closer look at the situation in Spain and France, which is perhaps more nuanced than it seems at first glance.
According to Spanish property expert Sean Woolley, it’s important to note that there is some misinformation floating around the internet with regards to post-Brexit visas and residency issues for UK citizens.
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“It must be recognised that not all the terms of the UK’s new agreement with the EU (and specifically with Spain) have been negotiated, never mind agreed,” he said.
With some countries relaxing travel restrictions, and vaccine passports being introduced across Europe, there’s a glimmer of hope for booking a holiday abroad this year. But many travellers feel reluctant to take that chance for fear of being taken ill, being stranded, or not getting a refund if their trip is cancelled.
It’s no wonder that in a survey by UK-based company
Medical Travel Compared, almost half (43 per cent) of British tourists said they are wary of booking a trip during the pandemic, and two thirds (66 per cent) say that having COVID-19 covered by their travel insurance policy would make them feel more secure.
The UK-EU trade agreement
Well, we made it into 2021 – it’s been quite a ride, but here we are. I’d like to begin by wishing all my readers and clients a very happy and prosperous New Year. And as the temperature plummets, what rays of sunshine can we see for the coming year that can give us cheer until the warmer weather arrives?
How about the recently agreed EU-UK Trade Deal – surely there must be some good news to be found in amongst those 1,246 pages? I can’t pretend to have read them all, but here’s a look at some of the key things covered and what they mean for us.
The changes to European health cards for travel you need to know. (JPI Media) Now that Britain has officially left the EU, the old EHIC cards which provided limited medical cover for Brits abroad will be phased out. The European Health Insurance Cards allowed travellers in the EU to receive limited public health care for free, at a reduced fee or at the same price as residents of the country the traveller was in. The card also protected travellers in some other countries like Norway, Iceland and Switzerland. Though travel abroad is off for the moment thanks to the ongoing pandemic, some are wondering what to do with their old EHIC cards - and what scheme will come in to replace the cards.