Although few of them were allowed to vote during the referendum, the millions of EU citizens living in the UK will be among those affected the most by Brexit. Their rights are covered by the withdrawal agreement negotiated by the UK and the EU, which the European Parliament is due to vote on 29 January.
On 15 January, MEPs adopted a resolution saying assurances are needed on the protection of citizens’ rights to ensure Parliament’s support for the withdrawal agreement. Following the adoption of the resolution, Parliament’s Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt obtained clarifications from Brexit secretary Steve Barclay during a meeting in London.
UK authorities are now exploring the possibility for EU citizens with settled status to be able to print a form asserting their status, as requested by the Parliament. Verhofstadt was also told that there would be no automatic deportation of EU citizens that have not applied yet. They will have the possibility to have their case heard and obtain settled status.
However, while the withdrawal agreement gives both Brits and EU citizens the right to continue working and living in the country in which they now live, other issues remain to be decided.
The next step is for the EU and the UK to negotiate an agreement on future relations, covering anything from trade to collaboration on issues such as the environment and terrorism. It will also cover health coverage for EU citizens living in the UK and Brits living in the EU.
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