Blue Badges May Be Rejected In Europe, Drivers Warned

[naomi24]

One for disabled travellers in Europe to keep an eye on.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62287752

Conversely ….

//The British government allows the use of French blue badges in disabled parking spaces anywhere in the country. The same is true for badges from any other European Union member state. //

https://www.connexionfrance.com/article/Practical/Your-Questions/Everyday-Life/Can-you-use-a-French-disabled-parking-badge-in-the-UK

How mean. Yet another example of the pettiness - and spitefulness - of the EU.

[Gromit]

I am now going to retire from this thread.

It is all nonsense and a waste of my time arguing with potty brexiters who will carry on all day until they are blue in the face, for another 50 posts.

See all you soon on another thread.

[douglas9401]

I hear scrabbling, must check if the cat wants in.

[naomi24]

Bye bye.

[barry1010]

naomi, it is because the agreement only stood because we were in the EU as it does with every EU country. We are not in the club any more.

[naomi24]

//We are not in the club any more. //

No - thank goodness.

[Ellipsis]

> This wouldn't be happening without Brexit.

Too right it wouldn't!

The thrust of the article is to point out that there was an agreement on Blue badges, like there was an agreement on a myriad other things, and that agreement has not been renegotiated post-Brexit by our Government (and their respective governments, TBF) so the status of a British disabled driver in various EU countries is completely unclear. You may park in one town in France, no problem, and another town, with a ticket, because they themselves don't know what they're supposed to be doing anymore.

The story is about the fact that nothing's been done to make the status clear. Quelle surprise, it's a shambles.

[barry1010]

But you seem to want to keep the club benefits, naomi. You can't have it both ways

[douglas9401]

Shambles yes, but a sovereign shambles. :-)

[naomi24]

Ellipsis, // they themselves don't know what they're supposed to be doing anymore.//

If they had an iota of common sense and common decency, they would recognise and maintain a reciprocal agreement as we have done. The question should never have arisen.

//Quelle surprise, it's a shambles.//

Yes … on their part as usual. There's no need for any of this nonsense.

[naomi24]

Barry, //But you seem to want to keep the club benefits.//

see above.

[bobbinwales]

Depends what you mean by "club benefits," barry.... if we use to pay for it and stopped paying then yes.... but this was an arrangement that was suppose to be mutually beneficial .... i not sure I see any point in any country dropping it and leading to possible titfortat

[davebro]

It's not much use fussing and fretting over minor issues such as this whether they are a legitimate result of Brexit or simply a hissy fit from our ex partners. What really matters is how this country & the EU will develop and prosper (or not) 10 or 20+ years down the line. That is to be determined.

[Ellipsis]

The story is that there is no agreement. All agreements are out of the window until new ones are negotiated or at the very least it's agreed that existing ones are being continued.

> If they had an iota of common sense and common decency, they would recognise and maintain a reciprocal agreement as we have done.

Before you malign anyone, that's probably what would happen 99% of the time - but perhaps not in more extremist areas. Extremism - such a pain, don't you think?

The point is, the fact that our Government hasn't got around to confirming it, means that our disabled people are unsure. That's the story - beware, disabled people, your Government has let you down and we're not sure of the status of your blue badge.

[naomi24]

//The point is, the fact that our Government hasn't got around to confirming it, means that our disabled people are unsure. //

What on earth are you talking about? This isn't about our government - and the only places that our disabled people are unsure of are those EU countries that are considering this mean-spirited move.

[Redhelen72]

I don't consider it mean or petty or spiteful.

Their countries their rules

[naomi24]

Haha! Bet you would if we'd done it, RH. ;o)

[Redhelen72]

If you say so Naomi - I am not looking for an argument, I am simply expressing my opinion.

[naomi24]

Jolly good.

[Ellipsis]

> What on earth are you talking about?

The article that you linked to in the OP! Just to remind you, here are the first two paragraphs of that article:

> Disabled drivers are being warned that their blue badges MAY not be accepted in popular European holiday destinations this summer due to Brexit.
> MINISTERS ARE NEGOTIATING the status of the badges - which were recognised when the UK was in the EU - with 11 nations.

My emphasis added.

[bhg481]

These are all things which will need to be sorted if/when Scotland gets independence. The big changes are obvious and expected; it's the minor things which cause irritation because nobody thought about them in advance.