This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/sep/11/amber-rudd-britons-might-need-to-pay-for-permission-to-visit-eu

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Britons might need to pay for permission to visit EU, Rudd says Britons might need to pay for permission to visit EU, Rudd says
(about 4 hours later)
Britons could be forced to pay for permission to travel to the EU after Brexit, the home secretary has admitted, warning that the restrictions are likely to form part of the negotiations over departure. Britons might have to apply for advance permission to travel to the EU, the home secretary has conceded, warning that the prospect of such restrictions is likely to form part of the negotiations over departure.
In her first significant interview since taking over the post in July, Amber Rudd said the possible need to apply for permission to travel under a visa waiver scheme being considered by the European commission was not the preferred option but could not be discounted.In her first significant interview since taking over the post in July, Amber Rudd said the possible need to apply for permission to travel under a visa waiver scheme being considered by the European commission was not the preferred option but could not be discounted.
Asked on BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show on Sunday if UK nationals might be shocked to have to pay for permission to visit France, Rudd replied: “I think they would be surprised. I don’t think it’s particularly desirable, but we don’t rule it out, because we have to be allowed a free hand to get the best negotiations.” Rudd also raised the possibility of making it necessary for EU migrants to the UK to have work permits, saying the idea “certainly has value”.
She added: “My reaction to that is it’s a reminder that this is a two-way negotiation. The EU and the commissioners may be considering issues, alternatives. They will be considering their negotiations with us, just as we are with them. But I’m going to make sure that what we do get is in the best interests of the UK.” Appearing on BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, Rudd was asked whether UK nationals might be shocked to have to pay for permission to visit France. She replied: “I think they would be surprised. I don’t think it’s particularly desirable, but we don’t rule it out, because we have to be allowed a free hand to get the best negotiations.”
On Saturday, the Guardian reported that as part of draft European commission legislation for the EU travel information and authorisation system (Etias), France and Germany both back a system based on the US Esta scheme, which requires visitors from countries that do not require full visas to apply online for permission to travel, preferably 72 hours before they leave, at a cost of $14 (£10). Rudd added: “My reaction to that is it’s a reminder that this is a two-way negotiation. The EU and the commissioners may be considering issues, alternatives. They will be considering their negotiations with us, just as we are with them. But I’m going to make sure that what we do get is in the best interests of the UK.”
As EU citizens, though not from the Schengen free movement area, UK nationals must show a valid passport to enter the zone but can then travel freely within it. But after Brexit, British citizens could have to apply through the Etias scheme and pay to visit, legal experts told the Guardian. On Saturday, the Guardian reported that as part of draft European commission legislation for a proposed EU travel information and authorisation system, France and Germany have backed a system based on the US Esta scheme. Under the American system, visitors from countries that do not require full visas are required to apply online for permission to travel at a cost of $14 (£10).
Andy Burnham, the shadow home secretary, said Rudd’s comments pointed to “yet another example of the drift and confusion as a result of the government’s failure to plan for Brexit”. Such a scheme, if imposed, could end up applying to travellers from a UK no longer in the EU, legal experts said.
He said: “The home secretary’s words will not have reassured ordinary families about the cost of Brexit. She seems to be sympathetic to an idea that will put a flat £50 tax on the average family holiday in Europe. Tory ministers might think nothing of that, but it would make it even harder for ordinary families to afford a holiday. Opposition parties expressed alarm at Rudd’s comments. Andy Burnham, the shadow home secretary, said they pointed to “yet another example of the drift and confusion as a result of the government’s failure to plan for Brexit”.
“Norway doesn’t have the charge so why should we? I challenge the home secretary to rule it out.” The Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, said the prospect of advance travel permission was “another sign that things are happening around this Brexit Tory government and all they seem to do is squabble amongst themselves”.
Rudd, a prominent supporter of remaining in the EU before the June referendum, otherwise gave very few details of how she might seek to balance controlling immigration numbers from the EU with keeping some access to the bloc’s single market.Rudd, a prominent supporter of remaining in the EU before the June referendum, otherwise gave very few details of how she might seek to balance controlling immigration numbers from the EU with keeping some access to the bloc’s single market.
“What I do think the British public voted for was to make sure that we reduce immigration from the European Union,” Rudd said. “That’s a given. We have to find a way of doing that. I wouldn’t necessarily say what it means to do with the single market, but what I would say is we have to work out how we can do that, while promoting and protecting the economy.”“What I do think the British public voted for was to make sure that we reduce immigration from the European Union,” Rudd said. “That’s a given. We have to find a way of doing that. I wouldn’t necessarily say what it means to do with the single market, but what I would say is we have to work out how we can do that, while promoting and protecting the economy.”
While confirming the intention to reduce annual net migration to the tens of thousands, Rudd said she could give no details as to which areas would be tackled. There are increasing signs within the government of internal jostling to push forward competing models for how Brexit might look. After David Davis, the secretary of state for exiting the EU, was corrected by Downing Street after telling MPs it was unlikely Britain would stay in the single market, Boris Johnson has endorsed a new alliance of pro-Brexit politicians aimed at pressuring Theresa May into fully delivering on leaving the EU.
“I can’t tell you which portion of which area of immigration we’re actually going to drive down more than the other,” she said. “Because we’re going to be entering into a negotiation with the European Union.” Johnson, the foreign secretary and a prominent leave campaigner, said the Change Britain campaign, led by the pro-Brexit Labour MP Gisela Stuart and backed by Michael Gove, among others, would ensure the UK gained control over “laws, borders, money and trade”.
Pressed on details, Rudd echoed Theresa May’s words on Brexit, saying: “I know you want me to give a running commentary on the negotiations, but I’m not in a position to do that.” Change Britain immediately faced questions over the much-repeated claim by leave campaigners before the referendum that Brexit could see an extra £350m a week spent on the NHS.
She added: “What we’re going to look at is how we can get the best for the economy – driving the numbers down but protecting the people who really add value to the economy. I can’t give specific areas at the moment.” More than 20 Labour MPs have written an open letter to Change Britain, asking for an apology if the promise is not kept.
With May ruling out a points-style system last week, Rudd was asked if there would be some sort of work permit scheme for EU arrivals. She said: “I think that work permits certainly has value. But as I said, we’re not ruling anything out at the moment.” The letter says: “They cannot walk away from it now, disown it or pretend it never happened. They must either admit it was a lie and apologise to their voters, or justify it and explain when it is coming.”
Amid concerns from universities that student arrivals could be reduced, Rudd sought to give some reassurance. She said: “We’re looking at a number of options. But students do make an important contribution. There’s going to be no blanket banning students coming to the UK. But we are looking at bringing down the numbers overall.” Speaking on Sunday, Stuart denied that anyone had been misled or that the pledge had been dropped. “For me, the priority was the NHS, but you need to be in government to actually implement that,” she said.
Finally, Rudd was asked about about her comments during the Brexit campaign about Boris Johnson being “the life and soul of the party, but he’s not the man you want driving you home at the end of the evening”.
Asked if she was happy with Johnson at the wheel now he is foreign secretary, Rudd responded: “Boris is not the driver. Theresa May is the driver. The rest of us are in the car. She’s very clear we’re all focused in the same direction.”