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Sajid Javid accuses EU of failing to address issue of expats after Brexit

Sajid Javid will unveil new details on the settlement scheme for EU citizens seeking to stay following the UK's departure - PA
Sajid Javid will unveil new details on the settlement scheme for EU citizens seeking to stay following the UK's departure - PA

Sajid Javid has accused the EU of failing to match Britain's progress on arrangements for expats after Brexit.

On Thursday, the Home Secretary will unveil new details on the settlement scheme for EU citizens seeking to stay following the UK's departure.

Ahead of the announcement, he demanded other member states provide more concrete information on how UK nationals living in the bloc can secure their status.

He said: "Publishing details of how we will administer our settled status scheme shows we are honouring the commitments made towards EU citizens living in the UK.

"But I am concerned that I have not seen any similar plans on how EU member states are going to support British nationals in their countries.

"This is not good enough and I hope both the European Parliament and Commission will exert more pressure for them to do this as soon as possible."

In brief | Citizens’ rights
In brief | Citizens’ rights

Analysis published last year found that around 900,000 UK citizens were living in other EU countries.

The Home Secretary has made a point of raising progress on arrangements for British expats in his early dealings with Brussels.

Last month, in a letter to Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament's Brexit Coordinator, Mr Javid said it was "unclear" what systems member states are creating to ensure the rights of UK citizens in their countries are protected after the end of the implementation period in December 2020.

The pair met earlier this week and, according to the Home Office, Mr Verhofstadt acknowledged that the EU's 27 member states had not done enough to set out what the procedures will be for expat Britons living across the EU.

FAQ | Brexit and EU nationals living in Britain
FAQ | Brexit and EU nationals living in Britain

Mr Javid's latest intervention came as he prepares to publish detailed information about how EU nationals and their family members living in the UK can secure their new immigration status.

The Government is expected to present a "statement of intent" and draft immigration rules to Parliament, confirming that the scheme will open in a "phased way" from later this year.

Officials said the documents will provide further reassurance to EU citizens by stating who is eligible, how people will be able to apply and what it will cost.

The Home Office has already detailed some features of its planned approach, including the creation from scratch of an online application platform.

Those who have been in the country for five years by the end of 2020 will be able to apply for settled status, meaning they are free to go on living and working in the UK.

FAQ | Brexit and expats
FAQ | Brexit and expats

People who have arrived by December 31 2020, but do not have five years residence, will be able to apply to stay until they have reached the threshold, at which point they can seek settled status.

The UK government has agreed that EU citizens and their families arriving during the implementation period, from 30 March 2019 to 31 December 2020, will be able to stay on the same terms but will need to register if they choose to stay for longer than 3 months.

Applicants will have to provide an ID document and a recent photograph, as well as declare any criminal convictions. The scheme will remain open until the end of June 2021.

Ministers have said the system will be quick and easy to use, taking a matter of minutes to complete and a decision given within a fortnight.

The Government has also previously confirmed the application fee will be no more than the cost charged to British citizens for a UK passport. A standard adult passport currently costs £75.50 when the application is made online.

The most recent official statistics showed an estimated 3.8 million EU nationals were living in the UK last year.