Britain’s plan for EU citizens rejected

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 European Union citizens is at the heart of the Brexit talks - EU leaders want UK 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 continuing ECJ’s jurisdiction after Brexit, since taking back control of laws was one of the key objectives of leaving the EU. More details of her offer will be out 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.

EU leaders dismissed May’s initial offer, while Labour said it was “too little, too late”. Labour and Liberal Democrats want unconditional guarantees of continued stay for EU citizens.