Parliament’s ALDE group leader was reacting to the release of the UK’s policy paper, ‘EU citizens arriving in the UK during the implementation period’.
The policy paper, released late on Wednesday, effectively means that free movement should continue through the transition period, which could take up to two years after the end of March 2019.
In a statement, Verhofstadt, Parliament’s Brexit coordinator, said, “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 have repeatedly stressed the importance of securing “equal and fair” treatment for EU citizens living in the UK and British citizens living in the EU.
Roger Casale, a member of the UK Home Office settled status user group, which is consulting with stakeholders about the settled status scheme, told this website, “This is confirmation that the UK will extend the offer of settled status to anyone who comes to the UK during the transition period although there will be some differences re family unification. I think this again shows that the Commission is in the driving seat.”
Casale, who founded New Europeans, which campaigns for citizens’ rights, added, “On the extension of free movement through the transition period, the UK government has capitulated to the EU's demand that free movement should continue through the transition period. This is welcome news and was entirely to be expected. It is also another example of how the UK government says one thing and then does the opposite.”
He added, “The UK government stated in January that free movement would come to an end on 29 March 2019. One month later, the government has conceded that free movement will continue at least until 2021.
“Expect plenty more concessions where this came from, because all the negotiating cards are in the hands of the EU. Demands from UK citizens that they should be able to keep their rights to free movement indefinitely are likely to grow. The only way to satisfy those demands will be to break the back of Brexit.”