This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/feb/18/theresa-may-brexit-transition-demand-demonise-eu-citizens-verhofstadt
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| May's Brexit transition demand 'would demonise EU citizens' | May's Brexit transition demand 'would demonise EU citizens' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Unthinkable for EU to agree to PM’s key demand on citizens’ rights, says Verhofstadt | Unthinkable for EU to agree to PM’s key demand on citizens’ rights, says Verhofstadt |
| Daniel Boffey in Brussels | Daniel Boffey in Brussels |
| Sun 18 Feb 2018 12.59 GMT | Sun 18 Feb 2018 12.59 GMT |
| Last modified on Sun 18 Feb 2018 13.56 GMT | |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| View more sharing options | View more sharing options |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Close | Close |
| Theresa May’s key demand over the terms of the transition period after Brexit would amount to a “demonisation” of EU citizens in the UK and will be rejected, the European parliament’s Brexit coordinator, Guy Verhofstadt has said. | Theresa May’s key demand over the terms of the transition period after Brexit would amount to a “demonisation” of EU citizens in the UK and will be rejected, the European parliament’s Brexit coordinator, Guy Verhofstadt has said. |
| Speaking on BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show, the former Belgian prime minister argued it would be unacceptable for the UK government to have the freedom to treat citizens arriving during the 21-month period after 29 March 2019 differently to those already in the country. | Speaking on BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show, the former Belgian prime minister argued it would be unacceptable for the UK government to have the freedom to treat citizens arriving during the 21-month period after 29 March 2019 differently to those already in the country. |
| May has insisted a deal over what she refers to as an implementation period should recognise the “difference between those who came prior to us leaving and those who will come when they know the UK is leaving”. | May has insisted a deal over what she refers to as an implementation period should recognise the “difference between those who came prior to us leaving and those who will come when they know the UK is leaving”. |
| Verhofstadt told Marr, however, it would be unthinkable for the EU to agree to a “status quo” transition period until December 2020 on everything apart from the rights of citizens who settle in the UK during that 21-month period. | Verhofstadt told Marr, however, it would be unthinkable for the EU to agree to a “status quo” transition period until December 2020 on everything apart from the rights of citizens who settle in the UK during that 21-month period. |
| The Belgian MEP told Marr: “It is not acceptable for us that that rules will not change for financial services, for goods but only for citizens, their situation will change. That is demonising citizens. That is not acceptable. We do not even want to talk about it.” | The Belgian MEP told Marr: “It is not acceptable for us that that rules will not change for financial services, for goods but only for citizens, their situation will change. That is demonising citizens. That is not acceptable. We do not even want to talk about it.” |
| Earlier this month, the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, had warned that the differences between the negotiating parties over the terms of the transition period were substantial and imperilled an agreement. | Earlier this month, the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, had warned that the differences between the negotiating parties over the terms of the transition period were substantial and imperilled an agreement. |
| The UK is hoping to have those terms agreed by March so it can focus on negotiations over a future relationship. The European parliament will have the right to veto any withdrawal agreement struck between the EU and the UK sometime in October or November this year. | The UK is hoping to have those terms agreed by March so it can focus on negotiations over a future relationship. The European parliament will have the right to veto any withdrawal agreement struck between the EU and the UK sometime in October or November this year. |
| Asked about the consequences of the European parliament, or the UK parliament, voting down the agreement at the end of the year, Verhofstadt suggested such a scenario would likely lead to “unknown territory”, with “a crisis in British politics, I presume, maybe an election, after that election a new government and a new position on Brexit”. | Asked about the consequences of the European parliament, or the UK parliament, voting down the agreement at the end of the year, Verhofstadt suggested such a scenario would likely lead to “unknown territory”, with “a crisis in British politics, I presume, maybe an election, after that election a new government and a new position on Brexit”. |
| Verhofstadt did suggest there was more flexible thinking on the key issue of including the financial services sector in any future trade deal. Barnier has at times appeared to rule it out. | Verhofstadt did suggest there was more flexible thinking on the key issue of including the financial services sector in any future trade deal. Barnier has at times appeared to rule it out. |
| “There will certainly be something in financial services, on regulatory equivalence”, Verhofstadt said. “What we don’t want with this withdrawal agreement, we establish a sort of financial sector that is competing with the continent, not in a serious way by lowering taxes, lowering type of rules ... We want a level playing field in this.” | “There will certainly be something in financial services, on regulatory equivalence”, Verhofstadt said. “What we don’t want with this withdrawal agreement, we establish a sort of financial sector that is competing with the continent, not in a serious way by lowering taxes, lowering type of rules ... We want a level playing field in this.” |
| Brexit | Brexit |
| European Union | European Union |
| Foreign policy | Foreign policy |
| Europe | Europe |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |