Dutch MPs call for ring-fencing of citizens’ rights post Brexit
Dutch MPs will on Tuesday vote on a motion to make guaranteeing the rights of British nationals in Europe and Dutch nationals in the UK a separate issue in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
The motion was drawn up by CDA MP Pieter Omtzigt and D66 parliamentarian Kees Verhoeven and calls on the Dutch government to lobby Brussels to take the section on citiziens’ rights out of the withdrawal agreement and make it a separate matter.
The recommendation was included in the duo’s last report on the Brexit preparations but generated a ‘negative reaction’ from the Dutch government, Omtzigt told DutchNews.nl.
‘This is why we are now submitting it as a motion,’ Omtzigt said. ‘It would appear that everyone wants to wait until the last day to sort things out, and many people are not aware of the insecurity this is creating.’
The motion points out while the Dutch government is taking the residency rights of British nationals in the Netherlands seriously, the rights of thousands of Dutch nationals in Britain will be ‘left up to measures taken by the British government’.
BREAKING: MPs @KeesVee & @PieterOmtzigt have just laid a motion in Dutch parliament supporting bilateral ring-fencing of #citizensrights of EU citizens in the UK & @BritishInEurope in case of no deal Brexit along the lines of #CostaAmendment in the UK. https://t.co/W2xe4yEiiV pic.twitter.com/L1PFrG3bBl
— the3million (@the3million) March 28, 2019
The Netherlands has been praised by British nationals for its approach to Brexit and for developing an easy and automated system to apply for residency permits.
The IND immigration service has set up a special website to keep British nationals on top of developments and outlining what they need to do to regulate their stay.
In the event of a no deal situation, the ‘Dutch government will provide for a decent solution for your residence in the Netherlands after 29 March, 2019,’ the IND says, adding that the ‘conditions for obtaining new residence status are not yet known.’
In that eventuality, the IND says it will contact everyone, using the address in the central register, and tell them about what to do next.
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