Meeting of the Specialized Committee on Citizens’ Rights, May 25, 2023: joint statement

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The 12th meeting of the Specialist Committee on Citizens’ Rights was held on 25 May 2023 in Brussels, co-chaired by officials from the European Commission and the UK government. Representatives of all EU member states also attended. The Committee was established by the Withdrawal Agreement to monitor the implementation and enforcement of the Citizens’ Rights part of the Agreement, which protects EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU, and their eligible family members.

The EU and the UK discussed the implementation and enforcement of the Citizens’ Rights part of the Withdrawal Agreement. The meeting also allowed both parties to take stock of the outstanding issues.

The EU expressed deep concern for EU citizens who received a denial decision between 27 June 2021 and 19 April 2022, but whose digital status did not accurately reflect this until January 2023, due to the operation of the EU Settlement Scheme. The EU called for full transparency and clarity on this matter and expressed disappointment with the UK’s plans for cost recovery of some services and benefits. The EU called on the UK to find a fair approach for affected citizens. The UK outlined the applicable framework, the protections in place for individuals and the need for consistency in the approach taken with UK citizens and other EU citizens.

The EU discussed the implementation of the High Court ruling on upgrading status from pre-settled to settled status, and welcomed preliminary assurances received from the UK regarding the UK government’s plans to implement judicial conformity review. with the Withdrawal Agreement. Both parties agreed that correct implementation is crucial for the beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement.

Other issues raised by the EU included the application of temporary protection rules, the calculation of absences and the assessment of proportionality, and the effect of imprisonment on the acquisition of settled status.

The UK raised concerns about the issue of permanent residence within certain member states, specifically, how UK citizens who do not apply for permanent residence demonstrate their declaratory right of permanent residence by accessing benefits and services.

The UK also highlighted the lack of publicly available guidance on reasonable grounds for making a late request in some member states, highlighting the negative implementation consequences this creates for UK citizens and the UK’s open-ended approach.

Other concerns raised by the UK included issues in some member states around the property rights of UK citizens, UK citizens proving multiple status under the long-term residence directive and citizens of the United Kingdom with special states that cannot access the rights guaranteed by the Withdrawal. Agreement.

Both sides raised future priorities, such as the upcoming electronic travel authorization schemes, civil society funding or the specific challenges children face, and discussed necessary mitigation measures for UK and EU citizens in the coming years, highlighting their determination to work together and constructively on these issues

The EU and the UK reaffirmed their commitment to protect citizens’ rights in accordance with the obligations of the Withdrawal Agreement and agreed to meet again in the autumn.