European Parliament Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE, Belgium) said on Tuesday evening 27 June that UK prime Minister Theresa May’s proposal on citizens’ rights, unveiled on 26 June, would be “carefully assessed” over the coming days. He also says in a press release that, at first glance, the proposal reassures Europeans on one point, “namely, the commitment to simplify existing administrative procedures”.
“However, a number of limitations remain worrisome and will have to be carefully assessed.” He states that “the European Parliament will act to protect the rights of European 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 European 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”, he added.
On Monday 26 June, Theresa May set out the UK government’s plans for the rights which European citizens may look to acquire before the United Kingdom leaves the EU and for EU citizens who arrive in the country after withdrawal during a period of grace of up to two years (see EUROPE 11816).
One of the points for negotiation with the EU will be the cut-off date, between the date of triggering Article 50 of the Treaty of the EU and the date on which the UK will formally leave the EU. One of the points to be determined is the role of the Court of Justice of the EU.
S&D Group leader Gianni Pittella (Italy) said in a press release that his group has serious concerns about May’s proposal, deeming it “discriminatory” to set a cut-off date before the UK leaves. Someone who arrives in the country on 30 March 2017 must have the same rights as someone who arrived on 29 March, the date of notification, he argued. The S&D also wants more information on family unification and rights of frontier workers.
On Monday evening, EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier tweeted that May’s proposals needed “more ambition, clarity and guarantees”. He is due to update the College of Commissioners on the state of play in the negotiations on 12 July, a few days before the second round of talks, scheduled for 17 July, the European Commission said at midday on Tuesday. In the meantime, Barnier’s team will go over the offer made by May on Monday evening point by point. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)