EU says UK's offer for EU citizens post Brexit not good enough

Speaking on Friday after the close of a two-day European Union summit in Brussels, May reiterated the terms of a Brexit offer made on Thursday, saying: “Those citizens from EU countries that have come to the United Kingdom and who've made their lives and homes in the United Kingdom will be able to stay, and we will guarantee their rights in the United Kingdom”.

But her proposal on Thursday was criticised for not being clear enough.

European Council head Donald Tusk – a former prime minister of Poland – said May's offer was “lower than expected” and “could worsen the situation of [EU] citizens” while European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker said it was not enough.

“My first impression is that the UK's offer is below our expectations and that it risks worsening the situation of our citizens,” Tusk said, adding that it was up to EU negotiators to assess the offer, once it was given in more detail.

“Citizens' rights are the number one priority for the EU 27 [all but Britain] and we have made our position clear. We want to ensure the full rights for EU and UK citizens after Brexit,” Tusk said.

Some three million EU nationals, among them about 800,000 Poles, live in the UK, while some one million Britons live on the European mainland.

Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło said May's offer was “preliminary” and that she would assess after London gives details.

“At the moment I can say that it is headed in the right directions but this is only a preliminary discussion,” Szydło said.

May promised to lay out more specific guarantees in the British parliament on Monday. (vb)

Source: PAP