Inquiry: EU nationals living in UK should be given permanent residence

EU nationals already living in the United Kingdom at the point when Article 50 is triggered should be guaranteed the right to settle here permanently, according to the new report of an independent Inquiry into the status of EU nationals in the UK after Brexit, convened by British Future, and published on the 12 December 2016.

The Inquiry’s report calls on the Government to make a clear public commitment that the 2.8 million Europeans in the UK can stay, and should be offered Permanent Residence with the same health, social and educational rights as British citizens.

The Inquiry panel, set up in August 2016 included voices from Leave and Remain, different political parties and from business and trade unions and was chaired by Gisela Stuart MP, former Chair of the Vote Leave campaign. Its remit was to examine how the Government can protect the rights of the 3 million EU citizens living in the UK after Brexit and to make practical recommendations as to how to do this, starting from the premise that this is the right thing to do.

Nicolas Hatton, chair of EU citizens’ rights campaign group the3million, who handed in a letter to No.10 Downing Street from representatives of EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens living in the EU on the 12 December 2016, urging that they are not treated as ‘bargaining chips’, said:

'the3million welcomes the publication of this report which confirms what campaigners of both the Leave and Remain campaigns said: the referendum was not about the rights of EU citizens living here. We call on Theresa May to take this opportunity to ring fence our rights from the Brexit negotiations now. We are not bargaining chips, we are people'.

'We are also positive regarding the suggestion to streamline the system used to register all 3 million EU citizens and we welcome the idea of a financial cap so no one is left behind'.

• Primary Source

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Background information: How do EU people in the UK feel about Brexit? [The EU Referendum, 23 June 2016. The United Kingdom and the European Union. The results. Reaction of EU Citizens in the UK] http://www.europeansources.info/record/how-do-eu-people-in-the-uk-feel-about-brexit-the-eu-referendum-23-june-2016-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union-the-results-reaction-of-eu-citizens-in-the-uk/

United Kingdom: Parliament: House of Commons: Home Affairs Committee, July 2016: Absence of certainty on Brexit migration issues, says Committee http://www.europeansources.info/record/absence-of-certainty-on-brexit-migration-issues-says-committee/

British Future: Tag: Brexit http://www.britishfuture.org/tag/brexit/

British Future: Tag: EU Migrants http://www.britishfuture.org/tag/eu-migrants/

The Guardian, 12.12.16: End Brexit uncertainty for EU citizens in the UK, report urges https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/dec/12/end-brexit-uncertainty-for-eu-citizens-in-the-uk-report-urges

ESO: Background information: New Inquiry to examine how Government can protect rights of EU citizens in UK http://www.europeansources.info/record/new-inquiry-to-examine-how-government-can-protect-rights-of-eu-citizens-in-uk/

ESO: Background information: The system is broken - #47years for the Home Office to register all EU citizens legally living in the UK - Our reaction following the publication of the latest data from the Home Office http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-system-is-broken-47years-for-the-home-office-to-register-all-eu-citizens-legally-living-in-the-uk-our-reaction-following-the-publication-of-the-latest-data-from-the-home-office/

BBC News, 12.12.16: EU nationals 'want guarantee they can stay in UK' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38285217

Politico, 12.12.16: Britain should make first move, let EU migrants stay: inquiry http://www.politico.eu/article/britain-should-make-first-move-let-eu-migrants-stay-inquiry-post-brexit/

Blog: EU Law Analysis, 11.12.16: Bargaining Chips No More: The Status of EU and UK citizens after Brexit http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/bargaining-chips-no-more-status-of-eu.html

The Guardian, 10.02.17: [Opinion]: Gisela Stuart gave EU citizens hope. What a shame she didn’t give them her vote https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/10/gisela-stuart-eu-citizens-vote-brexit-labour

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