EU leaders attack May’s plan for European citizens in UK post-Brexit
EU leaders slam May’s ‘fair offer’ of protecting rights of European citizens after Brexit
EU leaders warned on Friday that Britain’s plans to protect the rights of European citizens postBrexit risked leaving them worse off, after Prime Minister Theresa May made what she insisted was a “fair offer”.
European commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker told reporters that May’s offer to EU leaders over dinner late Thursday was a “first step but this step is not sufficient”.
The fate of around three million European citizens living in Britain after Brexit is one of the most contentious issues in the negotiations on Britain’s withdrawal from the 28member bloc, which began on Monday.
One year after Britain voted to leave in the June 23 referendum, May promised that nobody would be forced to leave after Brexit offering permanent rights over healthcare, education, welfare and pensions to Europeans who arrive before a cut-off date. But she declined to say when that date would fall, offering only a window between March 29, 2017, when Britain triggered the Brexit process, and its expected departure two years later.
German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel, speaking in Paris, said, “The mere fact that you won’t be thrown out (of Britain) is not a convincing breakthrough as far as I’m concerned.” But May defended the proposal, telling reporters at the end of the summit: “I remain of the view that this is a fair and serious offer.”
Leaders said they looked forward to seeing the more technical details when Britain publishes a formal paper on the issue on Monday. May set up a clash with Brussels by refusing to allow the European Court of Justice to arbitrate any disputes over citizens’ rights in Britain.
“From our point of view these will be enshrined in UK law, they will be enforced by the highly respected UK courts, and of course if this is an aspect of the withdrawal treaty it will be enshrined in international law as well,” she said.
What we’re saying is that those citizens from EU countries who have come to the United Kingdom, who have made their lives and their homes in the UK, will be able to stay and we will guarantee their rights in the United Kingdom — Theresa May, British PM My first impression is the UK offer is below our expectations and this risks worsening the situation of our citizens in UK — Donald Tusk, EU President It was a good start, but also not a breakthrough. There is still a long way to go — Angela Merkel, German Chancellor The proposal by the UK is vague. We do not want to buy a pig in a poke — Charles Michel, Belgian PM It is unacceptable for the Prime Minister to be treating EU citizens living here and contributing to our economy and society as bargaining chips — Sadiq Khan, London mayor