The British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, has said that he will hold informal talks next Sunday with EU foreign ministers to probe if a deal is possible to guarantee reciprocal rights for UK citizens in the EU and for EU citizens in the UK.
The talks, scheduled for next Sunday, will have to be approached delicately in light of the attempt by Brussels to block negotiations until the UK triggers the so-called article 50 process by which the UK gives formal notice of its intention to leave.
He said he felt that an “early solution” could be found and that the matter could be “cleared up pretty quickly”, but the stumbling block was Brussels’ refusal to enter into talks.
Some Conservative MPs have been pushing the government to give a unilateral guarantee that the rights of EU migrants in the UK will be preserved.
But Hammond said he could not give such a commitment, blaming the Brussels block on talks. The Government has said it needs a reciprocal pledge from Brussels over British expats in EU states.
“I would not recommend a unilateral commitment by the British government before we have received any reassurance of a reciprocal approach to UK nationals in other EU countries,” he said, adding: “It’s Brussels that has said until article 50 is served, we can’t start discussions.
“If the bureaucrats in Brussels would say today we are happy to sit down and talk to the UK government about a deal that assures the mutual rights of citizens in each other’s countries, I’m sure the UK would be happy to engage in this process.”
Hammond was giving evidence to the foreign affairs select committee, chaired by Crispin Blunt. Blunt said this position was “wholly misconceived” and called for immediate assurances for EU nationals in Britain.
