With departure from the European Union slated to occur in March of 2019, UK Nationals living in a post-Brexit UK face a predicament of belonging. While cultural ties to the UK ordinarily override inclinations towards any of the other 28 EU member states, the desirability of European Union citizenship certainly acts as a counter-weight to the notion of complete independence from mainland European influence. According to Maastricht Treaty of 1992, Citizens of EU member countries are afforded the full rights of an EU citizen, which are desirable for numerous cultural, economic and legal reasons. An EU citizenship affords freedom of movement and employment, removes duty fees from transaction, and allows voting EU representation and voting privileges to all persons living in EU member states. This citizenship goes even further, so as to protect a basic societal contract as dictated by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. A multitude of additional protections and opportunities are created through EU citizenship, rendering the status enduringly attractive to UK nationals.

        So what to do with a nation whose citizens have voted to remove from a system but still wish to participate in a successful aspect – one that is advantageous to the individual? As it stands, there are a number of methods in which non-EU member state citizens can obtain an EU citizen status. The most common of these methods is rather cumbersome in its process, requiring a number of years of study and/or employment in an EU member state in order to obtain citizenship. Certain other means, while still legal according to EU statute, are frowned upon by current EU institutions. These methods include the “investment” of capital in a member state’s government, accompanied by a minimum one year of residency. The “investment” minimum sits at roughly 1.2m euros while the high end hovers at 5m euros and is often referred to as a “bribery of citizenship”. Short of naturalization within an EU member state, these are the only options currently available to UK citizens wishing to remain a citizen of the EU.

        However, in recent months, talk of a new category of citizenship, “Associative Citizenship”, has developed. A concept endorsed by many liberal UK legislators and key EU negotiators, that would allow UK citizens to retain partial EU citizenship on a paid and individual basis. This new category of EU citizenship would ideally, according to its proponents, provide the full rights of an EU Citizen to those that wished to register. The concept was first introduced by MEP from Luxembourg, Charles Goerens and adopted by former Belgian Prime Minister and current EU negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt, a key player in orchestrating the nature of the British exit. The proposal comes as an attempt to appease the 48.1% of the population that voted against parting with the European bloc. Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat and vocal opposition to UK departure, was the first senior politician to fully support the Associative Citizenship movement, as it presents a middle of the road means of maintaining equal opportunity in the majority of Europe for UK nationals.

Not surprisingly, there is considerable political opposition to Associative Citizenship with the UK. Conservative Party politicians assert that such provisions would divide the UK into separate classes of citizenship, forcing a wedge into the current rifts within British society. Resistance to the compromise also originates from party desire to distance themselves from any EU sympathy. The development of Associative Citizenship faces not only political hurdles but legal ones as well, as it runs into complexities of dual citizenship with the Articles of the European Union. Article 20 refers specifically to the permanence of national citizenship in opposition to the complementary nature of EU citizenship, highlighting the difference in weight between the two. If EU citizenship can only augment the citizenship of a person belonging to a member state country, than a change of treaty would be necessary to allow UK national EU citizenship. Success during the ratification process for such a tremendous change is rarely accomplished, therefore, if Associative Citizenship required change to EU Articles, it would most likely fail in deliberations.

        Nevertheless, there are some that view citizenship in a more ideological manner, as a matter of belonging to a nation/state; A specification that is inalienable-that cannot be bought off or voted away. Associative Citizenship, in its current form, would go far enough to maintain the foundations of UK citizens EU identity, while still protecting these persons in a legal capacity. Such measures would align with any legal argument claiming citizenship as an inalienable entity, independent of financial or legislative posturing. Therefore, supporters of this legal perspective claim that UK nationals should be able to keep their previous EU citizenship, and oppose the proposal of any individual financial obligation to do so.

Amidst the abundance of perspectives is a middle ground. As talks between the UK and EU representatives are already underway, the details composing the Associative Citizenship opportunity will be defined and developed, attempting to find a politically and legally palatable foundation for the concept. The United Kingdom has stood somewhat independently since post-Second World War collaborations, possessing a national identity relatively dissociated from the European majority. However, it remains that the UK and European mainland have a symbiotic relation–collaboration is not always desired, but necessary between the two. The UK’s exit from the EU certainly puts stress on the already struggling bloc, however, it also presents an opportunity for independent negotiations between the two divergent entities. It is entirely possible that, through compromise, the EU can develop an Associative EU Citizenship, further promoting a new era of individuality and thus increased cooperation.