Demands on EU citizens’ rights remain a sticking point in talks

THE European Parliament will continue to push for concessions from the Government over the rights of EU citizens in the UK after Brexit, The Daily Telegraph has learnt.

MEPS are demanding that Britain allows the European Court of Justice to adjudicate over the rights of the 3.2 million EU citizens living in the UK after Brexit for at least eight years.

EU sources confirmed that before Arlene Foster, the DUP leader, intervened to effectively shut down the talks on Monday, the British were holding out for a five-year sunset clause, but the matter remained unresolved.

Separately, MEPS also want Jeanclaude Juncker, the European Commission president, to press Britain to enable the citizens to register in the UK free, rather than paying the £75 sug- gested by Britain.

Agreeing to such a request would cost the UK £240million but would be seen as a major gesture of goodwill to EU citizens who – even if they already have permanent leave to remain – will all need to apply individually for a new legal “settled status” after Brexit.

It is understood that under plans set out in the joint 15-page document laying down the terms of the first phase of the divorce proceedings, the UK Supreme Court would agree to refer legal questions on the rights of EU citizens to the European Court of Justice on the advice of an independent ombudsman.

Leading Brexiteers have expressed concern that Mrs May has agreed to arrangements that effectively undermine her pledge to remove the UK from the “jurisdiction” of the ECJ.