Theresa May’s plan for EU citizens dismissed as ‘vague’
LONDON : Initial plans set out by Prime Minister Theresa May on the future of 3 million-odd EU citizens in the UK – including thousands of Goans with Portuguese passports – were dismissed on Friday as “insufficient and vague”, setting the stage for protracted talks in Brussels.
The future of EU citizens is at the heart of the Brexit talks — European leaders want Britain to guarantee their stay and rights in perpetuity, including for their current and future family members. These rights are to be overseen by the European Court of Justice, not by courts in the UK.
May is unlikely to agree to ECJ’s jurisdiction after Brexit, since taking back control of laws was one of the key objectives of leaving the EU. More details of May’s offer are to be revealed on Monday, but she has promised settled status to EU citizens and a grace period for new arrivals.
The settled status is intended for EU citizens who have lived in the UK for five years – a provision similar to that currently applicable to Indians and other non-EU citizens. No date or cut-off date has been mentioned so far for this five-year qualifying period.
Campaign groups representing EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in EU also criticised May’s offer. Key issues include whether children of EU citizens in the UK living elsewhere in the Europe could still get financial benefits currently available.
Also, May’s offer is silent on bringing non-EU spouses of EU citizens to the UK, which they are currently able to do.