According to a Member of the
European Parliament (MEP) there is an indication that the United Kingdom might
be offered European Union “associate citizenship” at the end of Brexit, whether
the PM blocks it or not.
“Associate citizenship” remains a
“realistic” ambition and Brussels should make it available to UK nationals even
if the British Government vetoes the plan during negotiations, Charles Goerens
said.
In November 2016, The Independent
publicised that a plan for “associate citizenship”, proposed by Mr Goerens, was
being put into consideration by the European Parliament.
Such a move would permit UK citizens
who applied for EU citizenship to work anywhere inside the union as well as
giving them a vote in European Parliament elections – without affecting their
British nationality.
The Luxembourg MEP said there was
no real opposition to the policy from his fellow lawmakers in Brussels and
Strasbourg, who will be given the final say on the Brexit deal in a vote at the
European parliament.
And he said the EU’s negotiators
should make it a red line in future discussions, adding that eventual treaty
change was in the interests of those on both sides of the Channel.
The proposal has offered hope to
many who fear Britain is closing itself off from Europe and the opportunities
it provides.
Ms May outlined the Government’s
negotiating position in a speech at Lancaster House in January, followed last
week by a Government White Paper.
Mr Goerens said the Prime
Minister’s remarks were “very positive” and showed she understood there was a
“real problem” for Britons living both in the UK and Europe.
“Theresa May’s proposal is a step
in the right direction,” he told The Independent in a phone interview from
Brussels.
“The White paper was a clear
signal that I was not totally unrealistic by launching the idea of European
‘associate citizenship’.
“It is for technical reasons that
she wasn't more outspoken on this issue.
“She sent a clear signal that she
has understood that there is a real problem. Let’s not be too pessimistic about
that."
“European ‘associate citizenship’
is still on the agenda of the European Parliament,” he continued.
“You can say on the one hand that
it is not a solution that would be in line with today's legislation, with
European law, but on the other hand if there is a political will we can
overcome the obstacles to it.
“We can have treaty change, we
can have political process on the conviction that European citizenship, or
‘associate citizenship’, is in everybody’s interest.”
If the proposal is included in
the final Brexit deal that MEPs will vote on at the end of the two year
negotiating period, Mr Goerens said he was confident it would be passed.
“As far as I see, there is no
real opposition unless you talk to the right-wing parties represented in the
European parliament, and some fanatic Brexiteers,” he said.
“It is up to politicians to react
and to take initiative. It is up to us to move the lines, we are not only the
observers, we are the actors.
“The European Parliament will
have the last say on the arrangement between the European Commission and the
UK, we have a good opportunity to make clear our views on what should be the
outcome of this process, and one of the outcomes is the status of people most
negatively affected by Brexit.”
He further said: “Even if there
were no move made in this direction by the United Kingdom, in my view we should
even unilaterally offer the European associate citizenship to UK citizens
because it would be in everybody’s interest to act in this way.
“It is still achievable because
once Brexit is concluded people will be stripped of all their rights linked to
European citizenship. We must launch this process in a pragmatic way, but why
should it not be practical?”
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