European citizenship at the margins: how do CEE migrants respond to threats to their citizenship?

This chapter explores how Central and Eastern European (CEE) migrants in the United Kingdom (UK) responded to Brexit – a significant threat to their European citizenship. It studies inclusive European citizenship as membership and performance. Drawing on 22 original semi-structured interviews, a paradox emerges: CEE migrants, despite valuing European citizenship, seldom defended it. Their passive European citizenship diverged considerably from their largely duty-based national citizenship and seemed to invertedly deepen their ties with the UK, often endorsing its Brexit position. Critical views of the UK surfaced when Brexit posed clear threats to minority rights related to race and sexuality – rights under strain in many CEE nations. The chapter calls for articulating a more inclusive European citizenship agenda with transnational protection for minorities. Addressing this issue is vital in the face of escalating tensions and looming threat of extensive loss of rights across Europe.