Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis tabled a bill in parliament with the aim to protect the residence status and rights of current and future British citizens residing in Greece, regardless of whether a Brexit agreement is reached with the EU or not.
The bill tabled on January 3, revises the regulatory framework covering details with regards to the UK’s exit from the European Union.
The Greek foreign ministry’s Brexit bill foresees the following:
- Recognition of the right to residency for British citizens and family members who (a) have established residency in Greece up until the withdrawal date (b) will have established residency in Greece by 31 December 2020 (c) those who arrive after 1 January 2021. Also regulated are the conditions of their entry into and exit from the country.
- Coordination of British citizens’ social security and healthcare rights.
- Recognition of British driving licenses in Greece and their conversion to Greek driver’s licenses.
- The terms and conditions for opening and operating tourism enterprises in Greece by natural and legal persons based in the UK.
- The settlement of financial issues with special provision for the work of insurance and reinsurance companies.
- Meeting the urgent staffing needs of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue’s (AADE) in view of the need to carry out customs services and controls on passengers and goods, to tackle smuggling, to collect excise duties on beverages and fuels and to upgrade the relevant electronic services.
- Issues regarding the rights of natural and legal persons that may arise in the case of a no-deal Brexit and are not regulated by Union law, especially with regard to access to employment and recognition of professional and academic qualifications.
The foreign ministry is responsible for ensuring that public agencies are prepared to address post-Brexit issues on technical, administrative, operational, organizational, and legislative levels.
Issues not regulated by EU law, especially access to jobs and recognition of professional and academic credentials, will be settled jointly by the foreign ministry and any other related ministries.
