Theresa May has said that she plans to offer EU citizens who arrive before Brexit the chance to build up to the same rights held by British citizens.
EU citizens and those who arrive within the “grace period” will be able to build up five years’ worth of residence, the Prime Minister told European leaders.
“Of course, there will be details of this arrangement which will be part of the negotiation process,” she said at the second say of the summit.
“I want to reassure all those EU citizens who are in the UK, who have made their lives and homes in the UK, that no one will have to leave, we won’t be seeing families split apart”
“This is a fair and serious offer. I want to give those EU citizens in the UK certainty about the future of their lives, but I also want to see that certainty given to UK citizens who are living in the EU.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel called May’s proposal a “good start” but there was a still long way to go before the UK officially departed from the EU.
“Theresa May made clear to us today that EU citizens that have been in Britain for five years will retain their full rights. That is a good start,” Merkel said.
“But there are still many many other questions linked to the exit, including on finances and the relationship with Ireland. So we have a lot to do until (the next EU summit in) October.”
Others are calling Theresa May’s offer “too little too late”.
“Labour has been clear that people should not be bargaining chips in the Brexit negotiations. The prime minister’s offer is too little too late and falls far short of the full and unilateral guarantee Labour would make.” said Keir Starmer, the shadow secretary of state for exiting the EU.
“We believe there must be a clear commitment that there will be no change to the status of EU nationals in the UK. This is not only the right thing to do, but it will also help deliver a reciprocal agreement for the 1.2 million UK nationals living in the EU.”
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said similarly: “These proposals are frankly too little too late, and leave millions of people still facing unanswered questions over their futures here. It is simply not good enough.”