MEPs expressed concern during the debate on Wednesday 1 March about the rights of the 3 million European nationals living in the United Kingdom after that country leaves the European Union. They also highlighted the uncertainty and difficulty facing some.
In an oral question put to the European Commission, several MEPs, including Catherine Bearder (ALDE, UK), Claude Moraes (S&D, UK) and Barbara Spinelli (GUE/NGL, Italy), called on the British government to clarify the position of European nationals living in the UK as quickly as possible and on the European Commission to ensure freedom of movement rules are applied for as long as the UK remains part of the EU.
Tens of thousands of EU citizens pay their taxes, pay off their debts and pay into the pension scheme in the United Kingdom. Yet, already discriminatory treatment is taking place and leading, for example, to people resigning, Bearder said. Prime Minister Theresa May must put an end to the threats from her government, she said, adding that European nationals are not pawns in a political game.
Sharing the same concern, Moraes asked the Commission if it envisaged any measures to ensure the free movement of persons after Article 50 is triggered between now and the end of the month, beginning the divorce procedure between the EU and the UK. Moraes said that EU citizens in the United Kingdom and UK citizens living in other member states must not be used a “bargaining chips” in the forthcoming negotiations.
On Wednesday, the UK House of Lords voted to amend the Bill authorising the British government to open negotiations on leaving the EU. It adopted an amendment guaranteeing the rights of EU citizens already living in the UK.
On behalf of the Commission, Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova assured MEPs that her institution would ensure that the rules are applied for as long as the United Kingdom is a member of the EU.
Thus far, two infringement procedures have been opened against the United Kingdom with regard to freedom of movement. One is on the situation of British citizens returning to the country after living in another member state and the other is on the situation of EU citizens living in the United Kingdom but not economically active.
The issue of the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and of British citizens in the EU is likely to one of the first discussed in negotiations, along with issues around the remainder of the British contribution to the EU budget and the specific situation of Northern Ireland (see EUROPE 11732), a number of sources have confirmed over recent weeks.
On Thursday, following a meeting with Commission chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani stated that the Parliament would adopt a resolution very quickly after May triggers Article 50 (see EUROPE 11723). (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)