The news of “Brexit” shocked thousands upon thousands of European Union citizens. It has been months of uncertainty, of thinking about what to do and how, to carry out a process for which there is no clear path. The letter Theresa May sent a few weeks ago to the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, confirmed the firmness of the decision and urged the process of leaving to begin immediately.
Much has been said about it. About the consequences, especially economic ones, that the United Kingdom’s departure from the Union will have for both sides. And although that is undoubtedly extremely important, sometimes the issue is reduced to simple figures and the consequences this separation has for people are forgotten.
At ARISTOPET, always thinking of our beloved pets, we go one step further and ask ourselves, not without concern, what consequences this decision will have on the lives of our ARISTOPETS.
It may seem like a minor detail compared with what lies ahead. In fact, European Commission spokesman Alexander Winterstein showed that he had not considered the matter (he gives vague answers) when a British journalist from Euractiv asked how much priority would be given to pets’ status when planning the divorce negotiations between London and Brussels. Here you can see the moment in question (and note the other journalists’ giggles. Incomprehensible!):
But we cannot help being concerned. Above all because the freedom of movement of the 250,000 ARISTODOGS and ARISTOCATS that travel each year between the United Kingdom and the 27 countries of the Union is up in the air. It is a reality. We do not know what will happen. And it does not seem that this issue is on anyone’s agenda.
Until now, dogs, cats, and ferrets have been able to move freely around the European Union, provided they are accompanied by their owners and duly equipped with a pet passport. A system that, curiously, was initiated by the United Kingdom, where rabies was eradicated years ago, and which the EU as a whole adopted in 2012.
The pet passport affects us greatly in Spain. In our country, around 308,820 British citizens reside. And in 2016, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), we received 17.8 million tourists from the United Kingdom. This makes the country the main source of tourists coming to Spain. Many of them also travel with their companion animals. Surely, from now on, the process will be more complicated.
Looking at it the other way around, about 200,000 Spaniards currently reside in British territory. Many of them already have their pets with them. And others may have been thinking of doing so as soon as possible, once their professional situation became settled. But what about now? The outlook is undoubtedly much more uncertain.
Unfortunately, we do not know what will happen. And there is little we can do. Except urge institutions and their representatives to bear in mind during the negotiations that their decisions affect not only economies, trade, tourism, and diplomacy… but above all people. And, consequently, everyone who shares their life with ARISTODOGS, ARISTOCATS, and ferrets.
Until we know what happens, it would not hurt to take a look at the current regulations for traveling with pets between non-EU countries…
