The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has implored EU negotiators during a visit to Brussels to offer free movement for Britons through “associate citizenship”, as the “next best thing” to membership.
With the backing of the former prime minister of Belgium Guy Verhofstadt, Khan called for the idea to be at the “the heart” of the negotiations over the future relationship.
Khan said that rejoining the EU was not foreseeable in the “short to medium term” but that associate citizenship of the bloc could be one way to “make the best of Brexit”.
The idea had been first raised in late 2016 by Verhofstadt, who was then the European parliament’s Brexit coordinator.
The offer would include continued freedom of movement and residence around the bloc for those who wished to retain such rights. Such a status would also protect rights in healthcare, welfare and workplace conditions and likely the right to vote in European parliament elections.
Khan told reporters that he believed the idea had merit. “There’s an opportunity for us to move forward with this and I’ve been pleased with the response and it gives hope to London, as well as across our country”, he said, following meetings with EU officials.
The chances of such an initiative making headway in the negotiations are extremely limited as it would be unlawful under EU legislation.
There is unlikely to be appetite for any rewriting of treaties among the 27 member states, given the UK government’s hostile attitude to the free movement of EU nationals who wish to live and work in Britain.
(January 31, 1961) Brefusal
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Lisa O'Carroll
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Speaking at a joint press conference with Khan, Verhofstadt conceded that the biggest battle would be in persuading the member states to engage with the issue.
“Why not also give such a citizenship and, and the rights linked to the [EU] constitution, to people who want to keep that linked with with you?”, he asked. “That will certainly return in the coming months because such an idea needs to be discussed around the negotiation table”.
Verhofstadt said that the UK would need to reciprocate. “My idea would be a proposal from the European side that is hopefully well received by by the UK side”, he said. “But first of all, let’s be very frank about it, we need to do a lot of work here in Europe to convince member states about that… Also from the UK side they should offer them the same possibilities and the same rights to EU citizens.”
