Statement of the #Brexit Steering Group on the UK paper on EU citizens in the UK

In reaction to the release of the UK’s policy paper 'EU citizens arriving in the UK during the implementation period', the European Parliament’s Brexit Coordinator Guy Verhofstadt (pictured) issued a statement on behalf of the Parliament’s Brexit Steering Group: “We have taken note of the UK Government Policy Statement and the clarification it provides for EU citizens who will go to the UK during the Brexit transition period and will in principle have the right to settle permanently in the UK.

"However, we cannot accept any form of discrimination between EU citizens who arrive before or after the start of any transition.  The full European Union acquis must apply during any transition, including for citizens, and no differentiation can take place. It can certainly not be the case that EU citizens arriving during any transition are forced to accept a lower standard of rights, in particular those relating to family reunion, child benefits and access to judicial redress via the European Court of Justice."

In their resolutions, MEPs repeatedly stressed the importance of securing equal and fair treatment for EU citizens living in the UK and British citizens living in the EU.