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BREXIT

Young people in France also left depressed by Brexit

It’s not only young Brits who are mourning the result of the Brexit referendum, most young people in France are too.

Young people in France also left depressed by Brexit
Photo: AFP

A majority of young people in France also feel dejected by the rejection of the EU by British voters, a new opinion poll has revealed.

Some 59 percent of French people aged 18 to 30 described themselves via emoticons as ‘sad’ about the UK voting to leave the EU, according to a poll conducted by OpinionWay for the newspaper 20 Minutes.

When participants where asked to express their feelings in one word, ‘disappointment’ was the top answer with 81 occurrences, followed by ‘a shame’,  ‘incomprehension’, ‘surprise’ and ‘sadness'.

However a small minority (19 percent) of respondents declared themselves “delighted” by the Brexit.

The reasons why so many young French people felt disappointment echoed those expressed by young Brits in the days after the referendum.

One respondent Kevin described why he was shocked that the British had voted to leave the EU.

“They followed the extreme right and I find that a betrayal. We have always lived with Europe, it's precious.

“For me the EU means freedom. You just need a passport and you can go anywhere,” he said.

Some of the respondents to the survey had personal reasons to feel dejected.

Student Lionel, aged 25 said: “My girlfriend is English and Brexit is worrying for our relationship, because she wants to stay in France after her studies.

“With Brexit that's going to be complicated. I would also like to do an internship in the UK, but the chances of getting chosen are now far fewer,” he added.

Sixty percent of young people who took part in the survey considered themselves French above European, while only two percent felt the opposite – European before French. Some 21 percent said they felt just as European as French.

“I am attached to my country and all the culture that goes with it, but Europe means being open to others,” said 27-year-old Elsa.

The poll echoed similar feelings of sadness and dismay among younger voters in Britain, thousands of whom took part in pro-Europe protests over the weekend.

A survey by Opinium for the LSE found that 47 percent of 18-24 year-olds cried or felt like crying when they saw the results of the referendum.

Some 72 percent of respondents aged 18-39 said that they were ‘frustrated’ by people who had voted differently to them, while 67 percent said they were ‘angry’ and 61 percent ‘disgusted.’

The EU referendum revealed a stark rift between young, predominately pro-European voters and the more Eurosceptic older generations. 

The remain camp garnered 48 percent of the vote, but 54 per cent of 25-49-year-olds and a resounding 71 per cent of 18-24-year-olds voted to stay in the EU, according to a YouGov poll.

This proportion sunk to 40 per cent among 50-64-year-olds and to only 36 per cent of the over 65 group, prompting anger and bitterness among younger Brits.

by Imogen Wallace







 

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TRAVEL NEWS

EES: Eurostar could limit services over new biometric passport checks

Eurostar could be forced to cut the number of trains when the EU's new biometric border checks (EES) are rolled out in October, the owner of London's St Pancras International Station has warned.

EES: Eurostar could limit services over new biometric passport checks

HS1, the owner of the station and operator of the high-speed line between London and the Channel tunnel, is the latest body to raise concerns over the impact on travel of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) checks that are set to come into force in October 2024.

The new system which requires citizens from outside the EU or Schengen area to register before entering the zone would lead to long delays and potential capping of services and passenger numbers, HS1 warned.

The company said it needed nearly 50 new EES kiosks to process passengers but the French government had only proposed 24.

In evidence to the European scrutiny select committee, HS1 wrote: “We are told that the proposed kiosks are ‘optional’ as the process can be delivered at the border, but without about 49 additional kiosks located before the current international zone [at St Pancras] there would be unacceptable passenger delays of many hours and potential capping of services.”

With just 24 kiosks, Eurostar would be unable to process all passengers, particularly at the morning peak, and this could “lead to services having to be capped in terms of passenger numbers”, HS1 warned, adding that simple space restrictions at St Pancras station would make the EES difficult to implement.

The EES will register non-EU travellers who do not require a visa (those with residency permits in EU countries do not need to register but will be affected by delays) each time they cross a border in or out of the Schengen area. It will replace the old system of manual passport-stamping.

It will mean facial scans and fingerprints will have to be taken in front of border guards at the first entry into the Schengen area.

Travel bosses have repeatedly raised the alarm about the possible delays this would cause, especially at the UK-France border, which is used by 11 million passengers each year who head to France and other countries across Europe.

Last week The Local reported warnings by officials that the new checks could lead to 14-hour queues for travellers heading to France.

Sir William Cash, Chair of the European Scrutiny Committee, said: “Queues of more than 14 hours; vehicles backed up along major roads; businesses starved of footfall: this evidence paints an alarming picture of the possible risks surrounding the Entry-Exit System’s implementation.

“Clearly, this policy could have a very serious impact, not only for tourists and travel operators but also for local businesses. I implore decision makers on both sides of the Channel to take note of this evidence.”

READ ALSO: What affect will the EES border system have on travel to France?

The Port of Dover has already been struggling with the increased checks required since Brexit and there are fears the situation could be even worse once the EES starts to operate.

Given the possible impacts, the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee last year launched an inquiry calling for views by affected entities with deadline for replies on January 12th 2024.

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