'No EU expats in Britain will be forced out,' promises May
No European Union citizen living lawfully in the UK will be made to leave when Brexit becomes a reality, prime minister Theresa May told the House of Commons. She also promised not to split families.
26 June 2017
Publishing a paper detailing a plan to protect the right to remain of the estimated 3.2 million EU expatriates currently living in Britain, Mrs May promised that no EU expats would be forced out and, “No families will be split up. Family dependants who join a qualifying EU citizen here before the UK's exit will be able to apply for settled status after five years.“After the UK has left the European Union, EU citizens with settled status will be able to bring family members from overseas on the same terms as British nationals.”
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The plan also promises no “cliff edge” for EU nationals with the introduction of a two-year “period of grace” in which to make applications.Under the Common Travel Area arrangements, Irish nationals will not have to apply but all other applicants will face criminal record checks to exclude those who are “serious or persistent criminals and those whom we consider a threat to the UK”.One area unlikely to go down well in Brussels is the government's insistence that the continuing rights of EU expats should be enforceable through the British courts and not the European Court of Justice as the European Commission is demanding. “The Court of Justice of the European Union will not have jurisdiction in the UK,” bluntly stated the plan.For related news and features, visit our Brexit section.Access hundreds of global services and suppliers in our Online Directory
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Proposals outlined to EU leaders at Brussels summit
The UK's proposals were first outlined to other EU leaders at a summit in Brussels last week but received only a lukewarm reception.Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party leader, also criticised the plan in the Commons. “The truth is it is too little, too late,” he said. “By making an offer only after the negotiations have begun, the prime minister has dragged the issue of EU citizens and families deep into the complex and delicate negotiations of our future trade relations with the European Union, which she herself has been willing to say may result in failure.“This isn't a generous offer. This is confirmation the government is prepared to use people as bargaining chips.”EU expats will be able to apply for 'settled status'
Under government proposals detailed on Monday, EU expats who have been living in the UK for five years or more will be able to apply for 'settled status' once the UK leaves the bloc – guaranteeing their right to stay in the country.Those who have been in the UK for less than five years will be able to remain and then apply for settled status after recording five years of continuous residence. Dependants who join an EU national in the UK before Brexit takes place will also be able to apply for settled status once they have been resident for five years.However, ministers have yet to decide the cut-off date when EU nationals will be able to qualify to apply under the five-year residency rule, although it will be no earlier than March 29 2017 – the date the government formally gave notice of its intention to leave the EU – and the date the UK actually leaves.Expectation that EU expat rights in the UK will be reciprocated for UK citizens abroad
The government undertook to maintain EU nationals' existing rights to benefits, healthcare, education and other economic rights “in the expectation that these rights will be reciprocated by EU member states” for the estimated 1.2 million UK citizens living in other EU nations.Under the plan presented to parliament, the government also pledged to simplify the process of applying for settled status and to keep the costs down. “The administrative procedures which they will need to comply with in order to obtain these new rights will be modernised and kept as smooth and simple as possible,” the plan said.“Our aim is to make the application process as streamlined and user-friendly as possible for EU citizens and their families lawfully resident in the UK.”Among the measures being considered is using HM Revenue and Customs tax records to prove someone has been living in the UK rather than the current system where someone has to produce pay slips dating back five years.Related news:
The plan also promises no “cliff edge” for EU nationals with the introduction of a two-year “period of grace” in which to make applications.Under the Common Travel Area arrangements, Irish nationals will not have to apply but all other applicants will face criminal record checks to exclude those who are “serious or persistent criminals and those whom we consider a threat to the UK”.One area unlikely to go down well in Brussels is the government's insistence that the continuing rights of EU expats should be enforceable through the British courts and not the European Court of Justice as the European Commission is demanding. “The Court of Justice of the European Union will not have jurisdiction in the UK,” bluntly stated the plan.For related news and features, visit our Brexit section.Access hundreds of global services and suppliers in our Online Directory
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