UK: Early post-Brexit citizens deal an 'objective'

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON

British Prime Minister Theresa May said an early deal on post-Brexit rights for EU citizens living in the U.K. and British citizens living in EU countries remained an objective for her government.

May was speaking on Monday to lawmakers in the House of Commons, reporting on last week’s European Council meeting.

The U.K.’s Supreme Court is expected to rule next month on whether the government requires parliamentary legislation in order to trigger the Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty -- the formal initiation of exiting from the EU – by the end of March 2017.

She said her government would “respect the verdict of an independent judiciary”.

However, she added: “But I am equally clear that whichever way the judgement goes, we will meet the timetable I have set out.”

May also said a type of early assurance to EU citizens resident in the U.K. and U.K. citizens living in EU countries about their rights remained her objective.

“This is an issue which I would like to agree quickly but clearly that requires the agreement of the rest of the EU,” May said.

Earlier on Monday, a U.K. parliamentary committee report said people's rights must not be used as a bargaining chip in Brexit negotiations.

The report by the Joint Committee of Human Rights said any attempt to deport EU nationals could lead to months of “significant, expensive and lengthy litigation”.

“The government will continue to have obligations under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and could not deport the large numbers of EU nationals currently in the U.K.”, committee chairwoman Harriet Harman said in a statement.