MEPs debate the rights of EU citizens in the UK and those of UK citizens in the EU after Brexit during the joint hearing on Citizens’ rights after Brexit.

Brussels

Brexit (T)

article 50 of the Lisbon treaty (T)

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

MORAES, Claude (S&D, UK)

speech

GUALTIERI, Roberto (S&D, IT)

SPINELLI, Barbara (GUE/NGL, IT)

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

Committee on Constitutional Affairs

joint hearing

Joint hearing on Citizens’ rights after Brexit: extracts from the opening speeches

SOUNDBITE (English), Claude MORAES (S&amp;D, UK), Chair LIBE , Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. And while we have achieved some things in those Brexit negotiations during that divorce period, which Mr GUALTIERI who was in the Brexit Steering Group, a key member, but also some of us as chairs of committees, achieved during that period, it is absolutely clear that there is so much more to achieve, in the period up to the Brexit date, the leaving date. Indeed as we heard this morning, were reminded of this morning, during the transition period.

SOUNDBITE (English), Barbara SPINELLI (GUE/NGL, IT), (replacing AFCO Chair Danuta HUBNER) I welcome a crucial clarification made by the Council in the new guide.lines. EU citizens moving to UK during the transition period, will then enjoy the protection foreseen in the withdrawal agreement. Regrettably, Theresa MAY has already rejected such a stance.

SOUNDBITE (English), Barbara SPINELLI (GUE/NGL, IT), (replacing AFCO Chair Danuta HUBNER) I draw your attention on the possibility of a non-agreement, judging by the reaction of Mrs MAY's reaction to the Council's guideline, I wonder whether we should be prepared for this scenario as well, and secure at least some agreements on citizen's rights and Northern Ireland.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberto GUALTIERI (S&amp;D, IT), Chair ECON, Member Brexit Steering Group, We've made very clear that we'd have never never accepted an agreement which would have not been satisfactory in terms of protecting citizen's rights. The target was, and is, very ambitious because what we want is the full protection, the full 'grand-fathering' as we say with this horrible technical word of all the sets of rights, civil, social rights life time for all the citizens which are affected by Brexit.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberto GUALTIERI (S&amp;D, IT), Chair ECON, Member Brexit Steering Group, We heard just today the declaration of Theresa MAY, this is not apparently the position of the UK government, so we have another relevant topic to discuss, to debate.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberto GUALTIERI (S&amp;D, IT), Chair ECON, Member Brexit Steering Group, If we make the transition, citizens are part of the transition, so the status quo includes citizens and it is extended correspondingly. So this is now not just the position of the parliament, it is the position of the whole union, adopted in a directive, adopted unanimously by the Council. So it is clear now it is a red line.