News / ‘Valuable’ guidance on EU citizens’ rights
AROUND 40 people, many of whom were EU citizens who have made Shetland their home, gathered at Shetland College on Tuesday evening to receive expert advice on their status in the UK after Brexit.
The event was hosted by EU Citizens’ Rights Project Scotland in conjunction with the European Commission Office in Scotland, and it was promoted by Shetland Islands Council.
Cutting through the politics surrounding the subject, immigration expert David Brown of Drummond Miller Solicitors was able to give some reassuring guidance.
Based on the UK government’s latest advice, which is based on the assumption that a Brexit deal will be negotiated, he said that the application process for most EU citizens living in the UK should be “straightforward”.
If the UK government is able to deliver a negotiated Brexit, and with it a transition period until 31 December 2020, “the overall majority of EU citizens shouldn’t have anything to worry about”, he said.
Under the EU settlement scheme, EU citizens living in the UK for more than five years are required to apply for ‘settled status’. Those who have been living in the UK for less than five years at the time of applying are entitled to receive a ‘pre-settled status’.
The solicitor described the government’s approach as generous and pragmatic, a reflection on the fact that many sectors of the UK’s economy would not function without the 3.4 million strong European workforce.
However, should the UK leave the European Union without a deal, EU citizens’ status in the UK could potentially become much more complicated and uncertain.
Mark Lazorowicz of the EU Citizens Rights project said it was high time for the UK government to remove that uncertainty and guarantee EU citizens’ the same rights even if the UK crashes out of the European Union on 29 March next year.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
“The government has recently indicated that even if there wasn’t a deal with the EU, it would give EU citizens more or less the same rights,” he said.
“But that is not certain, there have been different voices within the government on that and, certainly, the only way that EU citizens in the UK would be reassured will be for the government to say now that they will give guarantees on the status while waiting for negotiation to be completed.
“EU citizens have been waiting for more than two years not knowing what is going to happen; so the simplest thing to do would be for the government to say: ‘Yes we are giving these rights to EU citizens no matter what’.
“That would certainly make a lot of people much more reassured about their status in the UK.”
Council convener Malcolm Bell, who attended the meeting, said the event was a “valuable opportunity for EU citizens to listen to the latest thinking on what the situation is going to be post-Brexit”.
EU citizens living in the UK were also advised that they would not necessarily lose their right to vote in the forthcoming European Parliament elections, which are taking place between 23 and 26 May 2019.
While the UK will not participate in these elections, citizens from the other 26 EU member states living here have the right to vote in their home countries.
More detailed information on all aspects of EU citizens’ rights following Brexit can be found on the UK Government’s website at: https://eucitizensrights.campaign.gov.uk and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-settlement-scheme-statement-of-intent
or via the EU Citizens’ Right project Scotland at https://publicpolicyevents.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/English.pdf
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 590 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.