MEPs are outraged by the offer of London to EU citizens
BRUSSELS, 10 Jul — RIA Novosti, Alexander Shishlo. The representatives of the factions of the centre-right, socialists, liberals, radical left and greens in the European Parliament (EP) has expressed its indignation at the proposal of the British authorities in respect of nationals of member countries of the European Union in the United Kingdom after its secession from the EU.
“The UK government proposes that the day after Brexit (British exit from the EU — ed.), the Europeans received the status of “immigrants from third countries.” They will have fewer rights than those that receive British citizens in the EU” — said in a collective statement of deputies of the EP that results on Monday, the Agency Belga.
As claimed by MEPs, the proposal of London creates the risk of “second class citizenship” and is in contradiction with the initial statements by the British authorities that Brexit does not negatively affect the position of EU citizens in the UK.
According to the MEPs, including the representative of the Assembly on negotiations on Brexit former Prime Minister of Belgium, guy Verhofstadt, they will not support any tightening of process of a British exit from the EU, which is expected to take place at the end of March 2019.
The decision to withdraw from the EU was adopted by the British people in a referendum on 23 June 2016. United Kingdom 29 Mar officially launched the process of withdrawal from the EU, passing the head of the European Council Donald Tusk, a letter of notification. According to the rules set forth in the 50th article of the Lisbon Treaty, leaving the EU, Britain will have to leave the Association on March 29, 2019 — exactly two years after the launch of the Brexit.