Call to end 'utter madness' for expats
Citizens’ rights agreement 'gathering dust'
CAMPAIGNERS fighting for the rights of five million expats living in host countries across the European Union are demanding an end to the 'crippling uncertainty' over their future.
The move came after the agreed extension of the Brexit process until October 31 unless the British Parliament embraces Theresa May’s deal negotiated with the remaining 27 member states.
However, citizens’ rights organisations British in Europe – representing UK citizens living in the bloc countries – and the3million, which supports EU nationals living in Britain, want an end to the machinations 'for those most directly affected by Brexit'.
The two organisations maintain the Withdrawal Agreement on citizens’ rights was backed by the UK and the 27 in December 2017 but has been 'gathering dust for over a year'. Since then, all 28 parties have been making their own arrangements – the EU no-deal planning appeals for member states to 'be generous'.
Spain has used a royal decree to safeguard the lives of legally resident British expats; the stance of the two campaign groups has had unanimous support in the British parliament, while Ditch politicians have called for their government to 'ring-fence' the part of the agreement concerning citizen’s rights.
Campaigners further demand an ' urgent' explanation as to why citizens from the European Economic Area, the European Free Trade Association, and Switzerland enjoy 'security' over rights but five million people who took advantage of the freedom of movement do not.
Uncertain
They argue that this leaves 3.6 million EU nationals in the UK and 1.3 million British citizens uncertain over their future – while dealing with healthcare, pensions and social security needed a coordinated approach between the UK and EU.
Jane Golding, of British in Europe, said: “This may be the last chance before the European elections to show the five million people who used their freedom of movement rights in good faith that they matter more than fish carcasses or Cheddar cheese.
“We need a binding commitment now from both sides that rescuing the hard-won citizens’ rights part of the Withdrawal Agreement will be the contingency, instead of the current contingency plans for 28 separate unilateral solutions without international treaty protection.”
And Maike Bohn, of the3million, said the October extension did not guarantee any future deal. “Citizens’ rights – the bit of Brexit that affects five million real people’s lives on day one - were agreed between the UK and EU in December 2017.
“Yet a year and a half later, we still don’t know whether the agreement is worth the paper it is written on. This means five million people still can’t be sure of the rights that will determine whether they will have jobs, study opportunities, healthcare and the ability to keep their families together in future.
“It would be utter madness to risk throwing these painstakingly negotiated rights into the bin.”