Bulletin - The British European Association (Denmark)

The British European – page 6
Newcastle?
Valerie Kristiansen submitted documents covering her correspondence with PH
Daniels and Jocelyn Mawdsley. A printout from the website "Citizens Signpost
Service" which claims to assist EU citizens solving their problems when "on the
move". A link has already been included on our new website.
ad.6 Any other business. What are the expectations of the members? Forthcoming ideas
and involvements, Bulletins articles etc.
ad.7 Thanks
An appeal was made for editorial contributions for the Bulletin. Anything of interest.
Offer by Eileen - on travels in the Far East with some pictures
Offer by Jill - on Germain Greer's ESU lecture recently on Australia
The chairperson, Jens Ulstrup, and Valerie Kristiansen thanked all who were present
at the meeting. They in turn thanked Valerie and Bent Kristiansen for their hospitality.
ad.8 Meeting Closed.
The main reason for our existence – our lack of voting rights to
national parliamentary elections.
I have talked to people who say that even if they were able to vote their individual vote would make
no difference. But we should remember that there are hundreds of people in Denmark and thousands
of people in the EU who have lost their democratic right to vote in national elections and therefore
have no voice or representation. If these disenfranchised people were all able to vote their individual
votes would, no doubt, make a difference.
It should be possible to have dual nationality or that voting rights be connected to residency as the
free movement of labour is encouraged within the EU and globalisation is a fact.
Danes and Brits eventually lose their voting rights when they have lived abroad for some time.
However some countries have made it possible for their ex-pats to vote.
Voting rights in EU:
Citizens of the following EU countries, resident in other EU countries, can vote in national elections
in their home country:
Austria, Belgium, Denmark*, Finland, France**, Germany, Greece*****, Iceland****,
Ireland*****Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway****, Poland, Portugal**, Schweiz, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden***, Tjekkia, and UK****.
* Danish citizens employed by an international agency, as for example UN, EU, WHO, can vote,