Event aims to offer advice for EU residents in city

AN event is taking place later this month to explain to EU residents living in Swansea what Brexit means for them.

Swansea Council has invited officials from the Home Office to talk about the EU Settlement Scheme and answer any questions EU citizens concerned about their future have.

As things stand the UK is due to leave the EU at the end of March, but under the scheme, EU citizens and their families will be able to apply to continue to live, work and study in the UK beyond June 30 2021, or December 31 2020 if there is no deal.

There is no rush to apply, as the settlement scheme does not open until March, and will run until at least December 2020.

The event in Swansea takes place between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday, January 23, in the Lord Mayor’s Reception Room in the Guildhall. Councillor Mary Sherwood, Swansea Council’s joint cabinet member for better communities, said: “EU citizens play a vital and valued role in many workplaces in Swansea including hospitals, social care and education as well as the private sector.

“We have invited the Home Office to attend this event so that they can explain the EU Settlement Scheme and hopefully provide peace of mind that EU citizens will be able to continue to live and work here if or when the UK leaves the EU.

“The event is simply a chance to find out more about the scheme and to ask any questions people have – it is not an opportunity to apply under the scheme as people will be able to do that when it opens in March.” ■ You can also find out more about the EU Settlement at: www.gov. uk/staying-uk-eu-citizen