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May unveils offer on EU citizens May unveils offer on EU citizens
(35 minutes later)
EU citizens living in UK for five years could get "settled EU status" under proposals outlined by PM Theresa May. EU citizens who have lived in the UK for five years could get equal rights to UK nationals for good, under proposals unveiled by PM Theresa May.
The new immigration status would grant them rights to stay in the UK and access health, education and other benefits after Brexit. A new "settled EU" immigration status would grant them rights to stay in the UK and access health, education and other benefits after Brexit.
Mrs May made clear the proposals would be adopted only if the same rights were granted to UK citizens in other EU states, it is understood. But Theresa May said proposals would be adopted only if the same rights were granted to UK citizens in EU states.
The plans were put forward at a European Council summit in Brussels.The plans were put forward at a European Council summit in Brussels.
Those arriving after the cut-off date but before the date of Brexit in March 2019 would have a "grace period" - expected to be two years - to regularise their immigration status, with a view to later seeking settled status. Mrs May told EU leaders: "No one will face a cliff edge."
She said: "The UK's position represents a fair and serious offer, one aimed at giving as much certainty as possible to citizens who have settled in the UK, building careers and lives and contributing so much to our society.''
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said Theresa May had told EU leaders that the UK did not want any current resident to have to leave, nor to split families up.BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said Theresa May had told EU leaders that the UK did not want any current resident to have to leave, nor to split families up.
She said the deal would provide certainty to three million people who have "built families, lives and careers and contributed so much to our society". But Downing Street has not yet specified what "cut off" date will be for new residents, after which the guarantee would no longer apply. It will be no earlier than March 2017, when the UK formally began leaving the EU by issuing the Article 50 notification, and no later than the British departure in March 2019.
Those arriving after the cut-off date but before March 2019 would have a "grace period" - expected to be two years - to regularise their immigration status, with a view to later seeking settled status.
Both the UK and the rest of the EU say they want to come to an arrangement to secure the status of about 3.2 million EU nationals living in the UK, and 900,000 Britons overseas, but nothing has been decided so far.
UK opposition parties had urged the government to make a unilateral guarantee to the EU migrants - but ministers have insisted a reciprocal deal is needed to ensure British expats are protected.