February 21, 2020 – One of the Brexiteers’ chief symbols of ‘taking back control’ comes into effect next month, with the reintroduction of blue passports. Meanwhile in Croatia…
As an ex-British Irishman living in Croatia, one of the more absurd subjects of the Brexit campaign was focusing on the colour of the UK passport. Apart from the fact that changing the colour of a passport is hardly a matter of life and dealth, the issue was somehow linked in some quarters as a key victory over the EU. By taking back control, Brits would be able to choose the colour of their own passports. An issue well worth risking the economy over.
The issue became part of one of the major campaigns of Britain’s largest tabloid, The Sun, and a major victory was hailed when it was announced that blue passports would replace the EU burgundy. In terms of the size and importance of international victories, I would perhaps rate the Battle of Britain and Waterloo as slightly more significant, but the politicians made the most of this massive victory. And The Sun announced this morning that the first blue passports will be issued in 2 weeks. Congratulations!
(Screenshot from The Sun, February 21, 2020 edition)
Meanwhile, in Croatia…
As the sun shines, and I look at my wife’s blue Croatian passport, Croatia an EU member currently holding the EU Presidency, I wonder what all the fuss is about.
All the more so when I saw the reaction to an article TCN wrote back in 2017, which stated that Croatia would not be changing the colour of its EU-approved blue passports. The article was picked up by The Guardian and set Reddit on fire. To quote The Guardian:
The EU never mandated burgundy passports: it simply produced a standard format that many member states chose to use for the sake of convenience.
I forget the exact words of the best comment of an incredulous Reddit user, but it was something along the lines of if Croatia can stay in the EU and have blue passports, why is the UK leaving?
Why indeed?
At least those proud new blue passport holders will be able to compare two shades of passport blue on holiday in Croatia this summer.
