PCE/PEC — Recognition of citizenship rights of UK citizens in other EU Member States and agreement on non-UK EU citizens' rights in the UK

24.5.2017

Question for written answer E-003500-17
to the Council (President of the European Council)
Rule 130
Julie Ward (S&D) , Jean Lambert (Verts/ALE) , Helga Trüpel (Verts/ALE) , Paloma López Bermejo (GUE/NGL) , Catherine Bearder (ALDE) , Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) , Alfred Sant (S&D) , Eugen Freund (S&D) , Alex Mayer (S&D) , Tomáš Zdechovský (PPE) , Barbara Spinelli (GUE/NGL) , Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) , Ricardo Serrão Santos (S&D) , Jean-Paul Denanot (S&D) , Ernest Urtasun (Verts/ALE) , Valentinas Mazuronis (ALDE) , Tania González Peñas (GUE/NGL) , Hilde Vautmans (ALDE) , Pascal Durand (Verts/ALE) , Viorica Dăncilă (S&D) , Kateřina Konečná (GUE/NGL)

Since the UK referendum on 23 June 2016, citizens of EU Member States in the UK and UK citizens in other EU Member States have experienced feelings of uncertainty, anxiety and distress about the situation facing them and their families.

‘New Europeans’ and other civil society organisations have highlighted the deep concern of citizens regarding their ability to enjoy the rights that derive from their EU citizenship, including the right to remain in the Member States in which they are resident, and retaining their right to private and family life, as enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights.

There is significant regret that individuals are being treated as ‘bargaining chips’ in the Brexit negotiations.

Irrespective of the UK’s current or future position, will the President advocate to the European Council that it should commit to maintaining EU citizenship rights for UK citizens in other EU Member States, and that these shall remain in place regardless of the outcome of negotiations with the UK?

Will the President also advocate that guarantees on non-UK EU citizens’ rights in the UK should be subject to a separate agreement with the UK and not be influenced by the outcome of negotiations on other subjects?