MEPs battle to win EU citizenship rights for Britons

The associate citizenship plan has been taken up by the EU parliament’s chief negotiator, the former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the parliament’s ALDE liberals and democrats group.
The scheme would allow those Britons, both living in and out of the UK, who wish to remain EU citizens to opt to keep their EU citizenship and the free movement rights that come with it, on payment of an annual fee.
They would keep their British citizenship and the associate citizenship would be an addition for those who wish to take it up.

The plan was first suggested by Luxembourg MEP Charles Goerens.

A spokeswoman for Mr Goerens said the EU parliament is expected to debate and vote on a resolution on its negotiating position in early April.
“If our information is correct, the draft text of the resolution should contain a paragraph on associate citizenship,” she said.

However, a spokesman for Mr Verhofstadt said: “The paragraph on EU citizenship is still in negotiations and it’s too early to say if and how it will end up in the resolution – however, Mr Verhofstadt is fighting for it.”
He is hopeful of succeeding, the spokesman said. Under current EU treaty rules citizenship is tied to being a member of an EU state, but Mr Verhofstadt believes this can be changed.

While the plan is attractive to many Britons abroad, success is by no means guaranteed because it would involve agreement from the EU member states to make a foundational change to EU treaty law.
What is more, the parliament is only one party to the negotiations, with the leading roles being filled by the European Council, consisting of the leaders of the member states, and the commission, whose lead negotiator will be Michel Barnier.