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Citizens' rights: EU chief Brexit negotiator calls for more clarity from UK Citizens' rights: EU chief Brexit negotiator calls for more clarity from UK
(35 minutes later)
The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has responded to the publication of Theresa May’s offer on citizens’ rights by calling for “more ambition, clarity and guarantees” from the British government.The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has responded to the publication of Theresa May’s offer on citizens’ rights by calling for “more ambition, clarity and guarantees” from the British government.
The UK prime minister had hoped to secure an early agreement on the principles of her approach when she offered it to EU leaders last week, but the cool response during the summit in Brussels failed to get any warmer with the production of a 15-page document on Monday afternoon. The UK prime minister had hoped to secure early agreement on the principles of her approach when she offered it to EU leaders last week, but the cool response during the summit in Brussels failed to get any warmer with the production of a 15-page document on Monday afternoon.
Barnier tweeted: “EU goal on citizens rights: same level of protection as in EU law. More ambition, clarity and guarantees needed than in today’s UK position.”Barnier tweeted: “EU goal on citizens rights: same level of protection as in EU law. More ambition, clarity and guarantees needed than in today’s UK position.”
The detail of the offer, which was made public as the prime minister stood up in the Commons to brief MPs on her visit to Brussels for a meeting of the European council, was also described as “worrisome” by Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliament’s Brexit coordinator.The detail of the offer, which was made public as the prime minister stood up in the Commons to brief MPs on her visit to Brussels for a meeting of the European council, was also described as “worrisome” by Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliament’s Brexit coordinator.
The fine print of the proposal confirmed a number of sticking points for Brussels, including May’s refusal to accept the EU’s position that the European court of justice should be the arbiter of any future disputes over citizens’ rights.The fine print of the proposal confirmed a number of sticking points for Brussels, including May’s refusal to accept the EU’s position that the European court of justice should be the arbiter of any future disputes over citizens’ rights.
The document reiterated that the cutoff date, after which any deal will not apply to EU nationals, could be as early as 29 March 2017, the point at which the UK gave notice of its intention to leave the bloc. The EU has insisted that the cutoff date cannot be any earlier than the point of the UK’s withdrawal.The document reiterated that the cutoff date, after which any deal will not apply to EU nationals, could be as early as 29 March 2017, the point at which the UK gave notice of its intention to leave the bloc. The EU has insisted that the cutoff date cannot be any earlier than the point of the UK’s withdrawal.
The offer also raised questions over whether students, who will be allowed to stay in the country to finish courses, will be able to stay on to work after their studies. The offer also raised questions over whether students, who will be allowed to stay in the country to finish courses, will be able to remain to work after their studies.
Furthermore, EU nationals who have already gone through the arduous process of attaining permanent residency status will have to go through another registration process. EU nationals who have already gone through the arduous process of attaining permanent residency status will have to go through another registration procedure.
Perhaps most controversially, under the proposal, EU nationals who marry their spouses after March 2019 will also lose their automatic right to bring their family members to the UK as is enshrined in EU law. They will be required to meet the income thresholds of £18,600 a year required of UK citizens who want to bring in family from outside Europe.Perhaps most controversially, under the proposal, EU nationals who marry their spouses after March 2019 will also lose their automatic right to bring their family members to the UK as is enshrined in EU law. They will be required to meet the income thresholds of £18,600 a year required of UK citizens who want to bring in family from outside Europe.
Verhofstadt said: “I welcome the fact that we have finally now received a counter-proposal from the UK, which is public. The European parliament’s Brexit steering group will study the UK’s proposals in the coming days.Verhofstadt said: “I welcome the fact that we have finally now received a counter-proposal from the UK, which is public. The European parliament’s Brexit steering group will study the UK’s proposals in the coming days.
“At first glance, there is at least one element that makes a difference – namely the commitment to simplify existing administrative procedures. However, a number of limitations remain worrisome and will have to be carefully assessed.” “At first glance, there is at least one element that makes a difference, namely the commitment to simplify existing administrative procedures. However, a number of limitations remain worrisome and will have to be carefully assessed.”
The European parliament’s resolution earlier this year had threatened to veto any deal that affected EU citizens who moved to the UK before its withdrawal in 2019, or any agreement that weakened the role of the European court of justice.The European parliament’s resolution earlier this year had threatened to veto any deal that affected EU citizens who moved to the UK before its withdrawal in 2019, or any agreement that weakened the role of the European court of justice.
Vehofstadt, a former prime minister of Belgium, added: “The European parliament will act to protect the rights of EU citizens in the UK and defend the integrity of European Union law, including the charter of fundamental rights and its enforcement framework.Vehofstadt, a former prime minister of Belgium, added: “The European parliament will act to protect the rights of EU citizens in the UK and defend the integrity of European Union law, including the charter of fundamental rights and its enforcement framework.
“As the European parliament has made clear in its resolution of 5 April, any degradation of the rights linked to freedom of movement, including discrimination between EU citizens in their access to residency rights, before the date of withdrawal from the European Union by the United Kingdom, would be contrary to union law.” “As the European parliament has made clear in its resolution of 5 April, any degradation of the rights linked to freedom of movement, including discrimination between EU citizens in their access to residency rights before the date of withdrawal from the European Union by the United Kingdom would be contrary to union law.”
Claude Moraes MEP, chair of the European parliament civil liberties, justice and home affairs committee, said: “Looking at the small print, the government’s offer is full of holes and threatens the rights of both EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in other EU countries. It will create yet further uncertainty. Claude Moraes MEP, the chair of the European parliament civil liberties, justice and home affairs committee, said: “Looking at the small print, the government’s offer is full of holes and threatens the rights of both EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in other EU countries. It will create yet further uncertainty.
“This situation could have been resolved had there been a strong and comprehensive offer, but instead the government has proposed cuts in rights by introducing income thresholds for family reunification and removing the protection of the European court of justice. This will create greater uncertainty for both UK and EU citizens and take up limited negotiating time.”“This situation could have been resolved had there been a strong and comprehensive offer, but instead the government has proposed cuts in rights by introducing income thresholds for family reunification and removing the protection of the European court of justice. This will create greater uncertainty for both UK and EU citizens and take up limited negotiating time.”