At a workshop in German capital, there is support for Britain staying in the EU and concern about what happens if it leaves

In 2013, when David Cameron announced his intention to call a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union, Brian Melican began to worry. As a writer and translator from London living in Hamburg with his German girlfriend, how would Brexit change his life? “I am not much of a risk-taker. After all, I chose to live in Germany, where I know people will always turn up to meetings on time.”



Three years later, he is the proud owner of a German citizenship certificate. Applying was relatively easy, he said. Any EU citizen qualifies for naturalisation after eight years in Germany, and since Melican was able to prove a strong “willingness to integrate”, his application was accepted even though he had been in the country for only six years. He could have married instead, he said, “but I didn’t want to go down on one knee with the EU flag waving in the background – that would have looked a bit suspicious”.

With four months to go until Britain may vote to leave the European Union, Melican’s expertise is suddenly in high demand. On Wednesday night, more than 200 expats listened with rapt attention as he and others shared their experience at a Brexit workshop in the basement of Berlin’s Aufsturz bar, organised by a group of Berlin-based Brits.

As soon as Melican’s talk had finished, the questions came tumbling out. Some in the room wondered whether couples in civil partnerships with German partners could apply for naturalisation, since Germany remains one of the few countries in Europe yet to fully legalise same-sex marriage. Others suggested it would be easier to claim EU status by applying for an Irish passport.

Melican suggested that applications for EU citizenship in cities or states with a history of left-leaning governments may stand a better chance of being accepted, since the administrations have an interest in adding liberal-minded voters to the electoral roll. Berlin, a social democrat stronghold and home to 9,211 registered Brits in 2014, may be a better place to apply than Bavaria, where the Christian Social Union remains opposed to dual citizenship.

The expat vote could prove crucial in the referendum: of the 5.5 million UK citizens estimated to be living overseas, about two million are thought to be based in the EU and would therefore be directly affected by the outcome.

Expats can vote for the first 15 years living away from Britain, meaning about a fifth of expats are ineligible to vote. Cameron promised to abolish the rule in 2014, but any change would come too late for those hoping to take part in the referendum.

Those eligible must register for a vote online or by post. In last year’s general election, almost 106,000 British expats around the globe were registered – three times the number in 2010, but only a fraction of those eligible.

At the Berlin workshop, a show of hands revealed overwhelming support for Britain staying in the EU. Only two out of 200 in the audience said they would considering voting to leave – and only because they felt it would help the EU.

“To be honest, I am not that worried about being kicked out of the EU immediately,” said Helen Turek, 30. “But then I never thought Britain leaving the EU would be an issue until recently.”

Rob Shaw, 37, a tour guide from Manchester, said: “I came here because I was very worried about what is going to happen when we leave the EU. I think a lot of people at home haven’t thought much about the effect it will have on Brits working in Europe – yet there are millions of us. I’d like our voices to be heard more loudly. It’s important we have as much say as anybody at home.”