Join us at the UACES Annual Conference 2024 in Trento

Highlighting the Lived Experiences of the Withdrawal Agreement among UK Citizens in the EU

From 1-4 September 2024, we will be taking part in the UACES Annual Conference 2024 in Trento, Italy. The three-day conference, held at the University of Trento, brings together academics, researchers and various experts from across Europe to take part in a series of track sessions, panels, discussions and exchanges focused on European Studies.

Together with colleagues from British in Denmark, British in Sweden and EuroCitizens Spain, we will be presenting during the Human Mobility track session on Tuesday 3 September.

Presenting lived experiences

During our session, Adjusting to the New Normal: The Lived Experience of Withdrawal Agreement Life for UK Citizens in the EU, we will be providing a short introduction to the rights UK citizens in the EU27 maintained in the Withdrawal Agreement (WA) and outlining the negotiating and political processes that have brought British in Europe to where it is today. We will also be holding three further presentations during which we will critically examine and assess the lived experience of WA citizens’ rights implementation in two constitutive countries (Sweden and Denmark) and a declaratory country (Spain), with a focus on the hurdles overcome and solutions found by the UK communities in these countries.

The presentations form part of our communications and engagement initiatives around Project ICE where our mission is to investigate the implementation of the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights through how the EU/UK Withdrawal Agreement is applied to over 1.2 million UK citizens living in the EU.

The session will conclude with an overview of the interrelationship between the WA, EU third country national mobility rights, such as the Long Term Residence Directive 2003, and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and discuss how they are affecting UK citizens in the EU post-Brexit.

Meet our speakers

Jane Golding OBE - Chair, British in Europe

Jane Golding is a Rechtsanwältin/Solicitor (England & Wales) and senior EU law specialist. She has worked for the European Commission and in private legal practice in Belgium, Italy and her own practice in Germany. She has wide experience in EU free movement law, EU advocacy, and has engaged extensively with EU and UK negotiators on legal issues arising from the negotiation and drafting of the Citizens' Rights part of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement. Since the Agreement came into force, she has worked intensively on implementation issues, including participating in the Specialised Committee since 2020, and presenting to the EU Parliament, EESC, and UK Parliament. In 2021, she received an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for her services to British citizens in the EU. Jane is also Chair of British in Germany, has lived in Berlin since 2009 and is a keen urban gardener.

Fiona Godfrey OBE – Director, British in Europe; Project Coordinator, Project ICE

Having practiced law in the UK, Fiona has worked in a number of strategic roles including for the EU Commission where she was involved in drafting EU health legislation. She has also worked for various EU medical societies as a strategic planning, policy and advocacy director, and has extensive international experience in advocacy. Fiona was also a legal advisor to what is now Your Europe Advice; has served on the board of Statewatch, a UK civil rights NGO; and participated in meetings with EU and UK negotiators. She has been participating in the Specialised Committee since 2020. In 2011, she was awarded the individual achievement medal by the WHO EURO region for her work on health advocacy. She later received and an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2021 for her services to British nationals in the EU. Fiona lives in Luxembourg where she has been based since 1995.

Paula Bleanch MCIAT – British in Denmark

Paula is a Senior Lecturer in Construction with a background in building design management. A graduate of the University of Cambridge, Paula has been based in Denmark since 2013 where she is actively involved with the British in Denmark Group - a group which itself was instrumental in securing a deadline extension for residency applications under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement in Denmark. She is also the group’s main contact for the British Embassy in Copenhagen as well as country lead for Project ICE. Paula is a member of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technology (CIAT), a keen walker and an avid birdwatcher.

Alex Kennan – Brits in Sweden

Alex is a communications professional with a background in stakeholder relations, and content and communications strategy. He also holds a graduate diploma in public relations management. Alex has been an active member of British in Sweden group since 2020 and is also the country lead for Project ICE. He is based in Stockholm where he works as a narrator for adapted education materials. His interests include languages and outdoor activities.