Reconstructing European Identity for the British After Brexit

Suzuki, Noriko (2026) Reconstructing European Identity for the British After Brexit. JOURNAL OF ADVANCED STUDIES ON BORDERS COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, 2 (1). pp. 201-222. ISSN 3057-9872

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Abstract

This article examines how the United Kingdom (UK)’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU) in 2016— so-called ‘Brexit’—has affected the lives, citizenship status and European identity of British nationals who continue to reside in EU member states. Focusing specifically on the experiences of British nationals living in France, this study used qualitative interviews conducted between 2023 and 2025 to explore whether the loss of European citizenship had altered their sense of belonging (to the UK, the EU and their country of residence), and how they had coped with the legal and administrative consequences of Brexit. The interviews revealed that some British nationals applied for French citizenship to ensure for remain in France following the 2016 referendum, identifying themselves as ‘British and French, or European’. Conversely, whilst some British nationals remained in France having obtained a residence permit under the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, others were refused this permit and were not recognised as “unworthed” to remain in France. This study focused specifically on the views of British nationals who had worked for European and international organisations regarding their identity and citizenship. It became clear that the particular circumstances of these international civil servants—who fall outside the scope of the Withdrawal Agreement—have created a situation of vulnerability for them. To address this situation, the study examined the current status of their efforts to reconstruct their citizenship in order to continue living in France. This study revealed that tracing ancestral roots to an EU Member State and applying for naturalisation—regardless of place of residence or the presence of a national identity—is emerging as a strategy for regaining EU citizenship rights.

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