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Britain's treatment of foreign nationals could ‘colour' MEPs’ view on Brexit deal UK treatment of foreign nationals 'could colour' MEPs’ view on Brexit
(35 minutes later)
The home secretary has been warned by the European parliament’s Brexit coordinator that Britain’s recent treatment of foreign nationals could “colour” MEPs’ attitudes to whether they approve a future Brexit deal. The European parliament’s Brexit coordinator has warned the home secretary that Britain’s recent treatment of foreign nationals could “colour” MEPs’ attitudes to whether they approve a future Brexit deal.
Guy Verhofstadt, the former Belgian prime minister, has written to Amber Rudd to express leading MEPs’ concerns about a series of incidents highlighted by the Guardian, including the threat to deport a Japanese woman who lives with her Polish husband in London. Guy Verhofstadt, a former Belgian prime minister, has written to Amber Rudd to express leading MEPs’ concerns about a series of incidents highlighted by the Guardian, including the threat to deport a Japanese woman who lives with her Polish husband in London.
Haruko Tomioka, 48, had her child benefit stopped and driving licence revoked, in what critics claim was an example of the Home Office’s attempts to create a “hostile environment” for those it believes should not be in the country.Haruko Tomioka, 48, had her child benefit stopped and driving licence revoked, in what critics claim was an example of the Home Office’s attempts to create a “hostile environment” for those it believes should not be in the country.
Despite living in the UK for 13 years, and being married to an EU national, Tomioka was given seven days to leave the country in a formal letter before the Home Office accepted it had made a mistake. Despite living in the UK for 13 years, and being married to an EU national, Tomioka was told in a formal letter she had seven days to leave the country before the Home Office accepted it had made a mistake.
Verhofstadt, who met the Brexit secretary, David Davis, for a meeting on Monday in Brussels, on the British cabinet minister’s bidding, warned Rudd in his letter of the concerns shared by him and colleagues on the European parliament’s Brexit steering group. Verhofstadt, who met the Brexit secretary, David Davis, for a meeting on Monday in Brussels, at the British cabinet minister’s bidding, warned Rudd in his letter of the concerns shared by him and colleagues on the European parliament’s Brexit steering group.
“An increasing number of these incidents have been reported in the media in the past months,” he wrote. “The most recent case concerned a Japanese spouse of an EU citizen who was threatened with deportation even though she was lawfully in the country under EU law for more than 13 years.“An increasing number of these incidents have been reported in the media in the past months,” he wrote. “The most recent case concerned a Japanese spouse of an EU citizen who was threatened with deportation even though she was lawfully in the country under EU law for more than 13 years.
“As you are aware, the interests of both the EU and UK citizens are of paramount concern to the European parliament and the institution will act to protect their interests throughout the process leading to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.”“As you are aware, the interests of both the EU and UK citizens are of paramount concern to the European parliament and the institution will act to protect their interests throughout the process leading to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.”
Verhofstadt warned that the UK needed to continue to comply with the letter and the spirit of EU law as long it was still a member of the bloc.Verhofstadt warned that the UK needed to continue to comply with the letter and the spirit of EU law as long it was still a member of the bloc.
He suggested that should there be inconsistent application of EU law, MEPs are unlikely to look kindly on the UK’s proposal to withdraw some of the rights of EU nationals living in the UK, including that of being automatically allowed to reunite there with a spouse from a third country. British citizens are subject to an income threshold of £18,600 a year should they seek to be reunited with a spouse from abroad, unlike nationals from EU member states living in the UK. He suggested that should there be inconsistent application of EU law, MEPs were unlikely to look kindly on the UK’s proposal to withdraw some of the rights of EU nationals living in the UK, including that of being automatically allowed to reunite there with a spouse from a third country. British citizens are subject to an income threshold of £18,600 a year should they seek to be reunited with a spouse from abroad, unlike nationals from EU member states living in the UK.
Verhofstadt wrote: “Until withdrawal the UK remains a member state of the union and fully bound by its obligations under EU law, including EU legislation on free movement of citizens.Verhofstadt wrote: “Until withdrawal the UK remains a member state of the union and fully bound by its obligations under EU law, including EU legislation on free movement of citizens.
“Those obligations are clear and incontestable. Moreover, inconsistent respect for those obligations can only but raise our concerns as regards the prospects for these citizens after UK withdrawal.“Those obligations are clear and incontestable. Moreover, inconsistent respect for those obligations can only but raise our concerns as regards the prospects for these citizens after UK withdrawal.
“In this context, it will inevitably colour parliament’s attitude to provisions on citizens’ rights in any final withdrawal agreement, to which, as you know, parliament must give its approval.”“In this context, it will inevitably colour parliament’s attitude to provisions on citizens’ rights in any final withdrawal agreement, to which, as you know, parliament must give its approval.”
He adds: “We hope that you can alleviate our concerns and can confirm that these are indeed isolated incidents which are being dealt with in an expedite and satisfactory fashion.”He adds: “We hope that you can alleviate our concerns and can confirm that these are indeed isolated incidents which are being dealt with in an expedite and satisfactory fashion.”