University examines Malaga's links with Britain post-Brexit

2017-01-07 10:00:00

Last Thursday and Friday the Rectorado building of the University of Malaga hosted an interdisciplinary seminar on the subject of Brexit.
The two-day event explored the important historical relationship that the Costa del Sol has with the UK, not only in terms of the number of British people who live in the province of Malaga, but also with regard to trade.
The seminar attracted around thirty people, from academics, to lawyers, journalists and representatives from Foreigners’ departments in the province. The British consul for Andalucía, Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, Charmaine Arbouin, participated in some of the presentations, as did Malaga City Hall’s deputy mayor and councillor for economic productivity, business promotion and employment, María del Mar Martín Rojo.
The first presentation given on Thursday looked at the effect that Brexit is already having and will potentially have in the future, on the many British pensioners living not just in Malaga, but in Spain in general, under the title of ‘From European pensioners to nonmember state pensioners.’ Charmaine Arbouin participated in the talk, along with Mayte Echezarreta Ferrer, Director of the European Observatory on Gerontomigration and representatives from the University of Malaga, who gave a further talk on rights and obligations of European pensioners living in other member states.
Other presentations on day one of the seminar included the result of the referendum and the prickly subject of political management behind the UK’s departure and the rights and political participation of foreign residents living in Spain.
Martín Rojo started off Friday’s session with an informative presentation about the concerns and uncertainties for business, tourism and the sociopolitical importance of the UK and Malaga. She also highlighted the potential opportunity for Malaga to attract businesses which may have previously thought of setting up in the UK, but wish to base themselves in a EU member state.
Further presentations were given about the justice system and how Brexit would affect British citizens’ rights and access to healthcare.
Questions were raised about the potential fall in tourism to the Costa linked to the weak pound as well as rights of British people as tourists and consumers once the UK is no longer party to EUconsumer protection laws.source surinenglish