EU Citizenship and Cruising

[zamber]

EU citizenship for a cruiser is quite handy. However, the reality is different from the perception. For example, many islands of EU nations are not part of the EU.

I find these immigration law websites advising people buying EU citizenship exaggerate the benefits. The sales pitch is pay X dollars for citizenship and get 10X back in free benefits.

Higher education is not so free. I came across a public maritime university in the EU. I thought "Wow, learn seamanship for free!" But the reality is there is over $4,000 in fees.

Are there any EU countries that provide housing subsidies for people that live on a boat, as opposed to an apartment?

A contradiction I see about EU citizenship is the EU health card - EHIC. First I read on the official EU websites that the EU health card is a right all citizens enjoy, then the same websites say somewhere else that health care is based on residency and people need to enroll and pay for it. Residency as in just living there as a non-citizen.

If all EU citizens can get a health card, can an American with EU citizenship that travels around in his boat, with no attached residency, get EU healthcare on demand?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by zamber

EU citizenship for a cruiser is quite handy. However, the reality is different from the perception. For example, many islands of EU nations are not part of the EU.

I find these immigration law websites advising people buying EU citizenship exaggerate the benefits. The sales pitch is pay X dollars for citizenship and get 10X back in free benefits.

Higher education is not so free. I came across a public maritime university in the EU. I thought "Wow, learn seamanship for free!" But the reality is there is over $4,000 in fees.

Are there any EU countries that provide housing subsidies for people that live on a boat, as opposed to an apartment?

A contradiction I see about EU citizenship is the EU health card - EHIC. First I read on the official EU websites that the EU health card is a right all citizens enjoy, then the same websites say somewhere else that health care is based on residency and people need to enroll and pay for it. Residency as in just living there as a non-citizen.

If all EU citizens can get a health card, can an American with EU citizenship that travels around in his boat, with no attached residency, get EU healthcare on demand?

There is actually no such thing as EU citizenship. You have to become a citizen of a EU member state. Your entitlements to healthcare , education , housing etc will then be a function of that states rules. Most states have a residency rule to avoid “ benefit shopping “ . Furthermore most states means test benefits , Hence to access discounted services you typically must be resident and have income below certain thresholds

Most healthcare in Europe is not free , despite some thinking it is. Mostly it’s a form of national insurance where you pay in over your working life, coupled with part pay ( co-pay ) style arrangements , where these are sometimes covered by private insurance

The EHIC card essentially is an arrangement whereby the cover in your resident state is available in other EU states , in practice the range of benefits varies considerably. In Greece for example , I only pay approximately 6% of the sticker price and hospital is free .

Becoming a EU member state citizen allows you to access the benefits of the EU , namely freedom to live work and travel within the EU. It is not some ticket to a freebie paradise. The Eu is not some “ socialist paradise “ , or “ hell” as is often portrayed elsewhere , it’s largely a centre right , pay as you go society

Note that each state issues it’s own EHIC card , you must fulfill its requirements to get it, which usually means you must be eligible for membership of its social security system.

By the way what islands are outside the EU whose countries are in the EU ?? ( I know one or two special cases but no more then that )