A special deal for expats is being fast-tracked to the Brexit negotiating table, bypassing other steps which could take years to decide.
Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s chief negotiator, has confirmed that people from the UK will be given the chance on an individual basis to opt-in and remain EU citizens.
The idea had been mooted earlier, initially as a longer term aim. Now the negotiator is reported widely to have said he will move it forward much earlier.
Verhofstadt called the proposal “very important” and said it had “captured the imagination and hopes” of many Brits who wanted to keep their rights as EU citizens.
Under the plan Brits would be offered individual “associate citizenship” which would let them retain the right to freedom of movement across the Union and therefore live and work in EU countries. Brits would also be able to vote in European Parliament elections.
The Belgian politician referred to the “hopes of many of the 48% of Brits who voted to remain in the EU”. He said the issue had risen in importance since it was first tabled and that it “cannot await treaty change”.
He confirmed that although the plan was originally intended to be in Verhofstadt’s report on long-term changes to the EU, it will now be taken forward independently.
“I am therefore proposing to remove it from my report - which after all is concerned with Treaty change - and to include it in the negotiations we will have with the UK government. I as Brexit negotiator for the Parliament will ensure that it is included in the parliament’s negotiating mandate.”
It is still an open question if the British government will have to approve the plan. This depends on how matters develop.
Article 50 is expected to be involved by the end of March 2017. If the UK restricts freedom of movement from EU states to the UK, British freedom of movement may also be so constrained.
Lib Dem MEP Catherine Bearder said: “The option of being able to retain EU citizenship offers a glimmer of hope for the millions of British people devastated by the referendum result.
“The fact this proposal is going ahead shows there remains a huge amount of goodwill towards Britain, despite the actions of this Conservative Brexit Government.
“Everyone who supports this should write to MEPs and tell them how passionately they feel about maintaining their rights as EU citizens, including the ability to live, study and work abroad."
