BREXIT: Government 'considering letting EU nationals bring non-EU spouses to UK'
GETTY Brexit talks are due to begin next week
In an attempt to get the ball rolling quickly in Brussels Monday, Whitehall sources are reportedly drawing up a “generous” package of measures for EU negotiators to mull over. But if a deal is made allowing EU citizens to bring non-EU partners into Britain post-Brexit, it could create a class of EU residents in the UK with better rights than Britons themselves, who face much more stringent tests to bring non-EU spouses into the country.
If agreed by ministers, the move would be a considerable departure from the Government’s position before the election, which was that EU and UK citizens must enjoy equal rights after Brexit day in March 2019. A source told the Telegraph: “It’s still the overall position that EU citizens in the UK will enjoy the same rights as UK citizens, but in some cases – perhaps for EU citizens with permanent residence – it is possible they will retain extra rights they held at the time of entry. “The final details are being discussed, but it is important to note this will be a small and diminishing category of people and it is important to get these talks moving now.”
GETTY Michel Barnier is the EU's chief negotiator in Brexit talks
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Britain is also reportedly promising a “light touch” approach to establishing whether EU citizens are eligible to remain in the UK after grumbles from Brussels over a “hostile” Home Office immigration bureaucracy. The Brussels bloc has already moaned about Britain’s 85-page residency application form for EU nationals – but according to reports, it has now been “radically simplified”. Theresa May’s Brexit team are set to meet with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier on Thursday to decide on how the talks will be structured, after British officials rejected the EU’s claim substantive talks cannot begin until the Government’s post-election position is finalised.
GETTY Mrs May's team will meet with EU officials Thursday to decide on the structure of the talks
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