Will I need a VISA to get into FRANCE? ABTA demands free travel to Europe post Brexit
FOLLOWING Theresa May’s recent speech, which indicated a hard Brexit, ABTA is seeking reassurance from the Government that Brits can travel within Europe without a visa after the UK leaves the EU.
Amber Rudd's vow on VISAS when visiting the EU
The leading association of travel agents and tour operators in the UK, ABTA, is looking to the Government for reassurance that Britons can continue to travel visa-free throughout Europe in a post-Brexit world.
These calls for clarity follow a speech from Prime Minister Theresa May today, in which she outlined a 12 point Brexit plan.
The PM made it clear that she would sacrifice single market membership in order to regain control of immigration in the UK.
This hard Brexit, as many are calling it, has called into question British travellers’ right to free movement within the EU once the UK officially starts the exit process.
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People want to continue to easily holiday and conduct business meetings in the EU
"People want to continue to easily holiday and conduct business meetings in the EU,” said ABTA’s director of public affairs, Alan Wardle.
“Among other things this means access to the liberalised aviation market in Europe, ensuring the public can still have visa-free travel and ensuring that travel businesses can access and place the staff they need to run effective businesses across the EU.”
He added: “ABTA will continue to work proactively with the Government to raise awareness of the priorities for travel businesses, and UK travellers, as they negotiate a future trading relationship."
Although Mrs May made it clear that the UK would leave the single market, she said she would push for the “greatest possible” access to it following Brexit.
She said: "This agreement should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services between Britain and the EU's member states.
"It should give British companies the maximum possible freedom to trade with and operate within European markets and let European businesses do the same in Britain.
“But I want to be clear: what I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market."
Against all expectations, the pound has rallied today following Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit speech.
Financial experts predicted that this would be detrimental for the pound, but it seems that Brexit uncertainty is more of a threat than the Brexit plan itself.
Sterling, having dropped to 1.133 against the euro yesterday in anticipation of the speech, leapt back up to 1.157 at its highest point today.
The pound is also slightly up against the US dollar, rising by 1 per cent to 1.228, plus it’s up 1 per cent against currencies in Japan, Canada, South Africa and Australia.
British currency is fluctuating wildly at the moment, as uncertainty around Brexit means new information or even rumours about the potential path ahead can trigger a rise or fall.
