Brussels to sue UK over freedom of movement

BRUSSELS sparked fury yesterday after launching legal action against the UK for allegedly breaking freedom of movement rules.

The European Commission gave the UK four months to fix the issue or face a lawsuit and hefty fines imposed by the European Court of Justice.

Although Britain left the EU on January 31, it is subject to free movement rules until the transition period ends at the end of this year.

But Brussels said UK law was limiting cross-border freedoms and the ability of EU citizens and their families to appeal decisions which restrict free movement.

However, EU officials were mocked for not giving details about what the alleged breaches were.

Eurosceptic MPs accused Brussels of being ‘petty’ and trying to create ‘leverage’ in the post-Brexit trade talks which have stalled over EU demands on fishing rights.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith told the Mail: ‘I celebrate their stupidity. If nothing convinces the British public we are well shot of this bureaucratic, nightmarish nonsense, then decisions like this do.

‘What they’re trying to do is get leverage on the UK and the answer is there isn’t any leverage. I hope our Brexit negotiators will give them Churchill’s famous V-sign, but the other way around.’

MP Andrew Bridgen said: ‘It’s desperate stuff from the bullying EU bureaucracy while UK negotiators hold the line on taking back control of our money, borders and our fish.’

Brussels said it had sent a formal notice to the UK – the first stage of infringement proceedings – notifying of a ‘failure to comply’ with free movement rules. Its edict said: ‘UK national legislation limits the scope of beneficiaries of EU free movement law in the United Kingdom as well as the possibilities for EU citizens and their family members to appeal administrative decisions restricting free movement rights.’

A UK Government spokesman said: ‘We have received the letter, and we are considering it.’

It came as Boris Johnson’s chief Brexit envoy, David Frost, warned trade talks have stalled over Brussels’ demands for the ‘status quo’ on fishing rights to continue.

In a briefing to ministers yesterday he said Brussels also continues to insist Britain stays aligned to single market rules on competition, social, environmental and workers’ rights.

Mr Frost has repeatedly refused the demands and told his EU counterpart, Michel Barnier, they amount to far more than what was asked of other third countries in return for a trade deal.

Today Mr Frost and Mr Barnier will conclude their third round of trade talks since Britain left the EU. There is only one more round scheduled on June 1 before a ‘high-level meeting’ later that month between Mr Johnson and EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, when they will decide whether striking a deal by December is possible.

The EU has accused the UK of running down the clock to force an agreement on its terms.