European administration

Julien · 2006-01-26T15:54:38+01:00

Explore the challenges of navigating European administration for expats living in France, the UK, and Spain, and share tips on simplifying the process.

Julien Founder

Member since 11 March 2005

17 years of happy life abroad

JulienFounder26 January 2006 13:54:38

53014

Hi everybody,

It's now almost the fourth year that I am working/living between France, United Kingdom and Spain. And my administrative situtation is getting more and more complicated!

When will we be able to work and live in any european country without all those administrative complications?

It took me one year to "close my files" when I left England for Spain.

It took me 4 months to get a resident card in Spain (I couldn't work before), then I worked as self employee there ... and I am now fighting ... to pay my taxes!!! I spent 2 afternoons on the phone for some papers which were supposed to be very simple.

I don't even talk about the French administration, which might be the most complicated

Now that I am moving back to the UK for a while, I still have to pay taxes in Spain for my activity last year, I have to declare that I spent 3/4 months in France but that I am not resident (it is the case if you spend less than 6 months in France), and recontact the British administration to say "hey guys, I am back"

This situation makes me crazy. We all speak about Europe in our respective countries, but why is it so complicated to move for young people like me, who consider themselves as the "European generation" and who want to discover our greatest things in Europe, I mean our awesome cultures?

Is there something we can do?

a frustrated Julien

marine Guest

marineGuest26 January 2006 13:59:50

vote ''yes'' the next time (again, for a few of us...)

Julien Founder

Member since 11 March 2005

17 years of happy life abroad

JulienFounder26 January 2006 14:24:21

53014

Well, we can't go back on this decision. France has been the first country to refuse that constitution, but I am sure it arranged a lot of other countries. It seems that Tony Blair (for example) took a deep breathe after the french decision.

In my opinion, the problem was that the proposed text didn't conciliate our differences (which is our strengh).

How long will we have to wait to re-launch the European debate? Is it a political subject only?

lenox Active member

Member since 17 January 2006

lenoxActive member26 January 2006 17:49:13

In the European referendum, when held in Spain, the foreign residents were not allowed to vote. The European (!) foreign residents.
I can't vote in England in referenda (I live in Spain). I can't vote in Spain (I'm English). What kind of Europe do we have?
The European Constitution actually reinforces this idea. Only 'nationals' will be able to vote in national and regional elections... and all referenda. Some Europe!

pmandel Member

Member since 09 December 2005

pmandelMember27 January 2006 09:54:21

Husband has been trying to explain to me the whole worker market thing, too. I'm an American with Austrian residency. According the the worker market laws, I get priortiy over someone from, say, Hungrary, when looking for a job in Greece.聽 Ireland, I read, is thinking of closing their worker market to outsiders. But which outsiders? Outsiders from the NEW EU nations or the OLD ones?

European UNION? Unity? What? Huh?