(Secretary of State for
Exiting the EU): Citizens have always been our
priority in the negotiations for our departure from the EU. The
Withdrawal Agreement will provide certainty to around three
million EU citizens in the UK and almost one million UK nationals
in the EU, enshrining their rights in international law. The
Government is clear that the reciprocal deal with the EU as set
out in the Withdrawal Agreement is the only way to fully protect
the rights of both UK nationals in the EU and EU citizens in the
UK. The Withdrawal Agreement gives these citizens certainty that
they can go on living their lives broadly as now.
Today, the UK Government is demonstrating its continued
commitment to put citizens first. The Citizens’ Rights - EU
citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU policy paper sets
out the details of our offer to EU citizens in the UK in the
unlikely event of a no deal scenario; removing any ambiguity over
their future.
Without the Withdrawal Agreement, the UK Government cannot
guarantee the rights of the one million UK nationals living in
the EU. I am therefore urging the EU and Member States to
reciprocate this offer and protect the rights of UK nationals
resident in the EU in a ‘no-deal’ scenario. I am pleased that
some countries are already taking steps to do so. I have
instructed Ambassadors and Heads of Missions to raise this with
their host governments.
In an unlikely no deal scenario the Government is committing to
protect the rights of EU citizens and their family members
resident in the UK by 29 March 2019, so that they can continue to
work, study and access benefits and services on the same basis as
now.
As there would be no agreed implementation period, EU citizens
and their family members resident here by 29 March 2019 would
have until 31 December 2020 to apply for a status under the EU
Settlement Scheme. The process will be simple and streamlined.
Without the reciprocity provided for by the Withdrawal Agreement,
we have decided in a small number of important areas that it is
appropriate that the rights of EU citizens are brought in line
with those of UK nationals, to bring fairness back into our
immigration system. For example, in respect of rights to family
reunification, we plan that EU citizens resident here by exit day
would be able to be joined in the UK by their existing close
family members, such as a spouse, under existing EU law, until 29
March 2022, after which point the future UK Immigration Rules
would apply to such family reunion.
The Government recognises the uncertainty UK nationals in the EU
will face in a no deal scenario. The UK cannot act unilaterally
to protect all of the rights of UK nationals in the EU, which is
why we have always prioritised reaching a reciprocal agreement
with the EU and why the deal we have negotiated is the best way
forward. However, where it is in our control, we will support UK
nationals through this unlikely outcome, such as through
bilateral arrangements on healthcare, as reflected in the
recently introduced Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill.
If UK nationals in the EU were unable to continue to live their
lives in the EU as they do now in a no deal scenario and returned
to the UK to live, there are a number of steps the Government
would consider to address concerns that they have raised. This
includes access to healthcare, education, benefits, and housing.
We recognise that these would be an important part of a
transition back to life in the UK.
We will continue to provide updates to UK nationals in the EU on
gov.uk and through our network of Embassies, Consulates and High
Commissions. The Government will continue to press the EU and
Member States to reciprocate this offer and secure these rights
as soon as possible for all UK nationals in the EU.
Let me reiterate that the Withdrawal Agreement is in the mutual
interest of all our citizens. It is the only way for the
Government to guarantee the rights of UK nationals in the EU.
