Thousands back EU citizenship plan
鈥楾housands鈥� of Britons have been sending emails welcoming the idea of an associate EU citizenship after Brexit says Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt, who is championing the idea.
Speaking to London-based radio station LBC he said: 鈥淸They] are saying: 鈥業 want to continue my link with Europe; I don鈥檛 want to lose completely my EU citizenship鈥�, and I鈥檓 looking to the possibilities, what elements of this EU citizenship we can keep on an individual basis.鈥�
He added the plan had 鈥渃aptured the imagination and hopes鈥� of young people, in particular, and while he could not promise it will be possible he hoped to see the EU 鈥渞espond positively鈥�.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very important that it is not the citizens of the UK who become the victims of this new situation and of the Brexit,鈥� he said.
The associate citizenship idea would allow citizens of a former EU state to voluntarily sign up to remain EU citizens, with some or all of the rights that entails, including free movement to live and work in countries such as France.
It would not however resolve issues that are in the power of the UK government, including annual uprating of the old age pension, or compensating for loss of the S1 form scheme for pensioners' healthcare.
It is suggested an annual fee would be payable for it.
The idea was first suggested by Luxembourg MEP Charles Goerens before being taken up by Mr Verhofstadt, the leader of the ALDE liberals and democrats group in the European parliament and the parliament鈥檚 chief Brexit negotiator. He has said he would raise it when the parliament votes on a resolution on its negotiating aims after article 50 is triggered.
