Following the Brexit Round Table in Brussels in January, the British Ambassador to Belgium, Alison Rose, has sent the following update. This gives some more detail to last week’s announcement from the UK government, regarding continuity of rights for ex-pats.

“I am writing to you to give you more information on the UK government’s proposals for safeguarding the position of EU citizens living in the UK, and UK nationals living in the EU, after the UK leaves the European Union. The full paper on the UK proposal can be found here.

The UK Government undertakes to treat EU citizens in the UK according to the principles in paragraph 7 of the attached document, in the expectation that the EU will offer reciprocal treatment for UK nationals resident in its member states

Prime Minister Theresa May has said that we want to provide as much certainty as possible to the three million EU citizens currently living in the UK and the one million UK nationals living in the EU. We want to reach a reciprocal deal that covers both EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU as quickly as possible.

We have listened carefully to the concerns of UK national communities in the EU to ensure we reflect their issues and concerns in our approach to the negotiations. This is a priority issue for the forthcoming negotiations and as the Prime Minister has emphasised, we will always put the interests of citizens first.

A number of you have asked me what will happen to your UK State Pension after the UK has left the EU. UK State Pension is payable worldwide under domestic legislation. It is the UK’s intention to continue to uprate UK State Pensions for individuals living in the EU after we leave, subject to a reciprocal deal with the EU. The paper also covers other issues I know are of concern to you, such as health care, benefits, social security, education and mutual recognition of qualifications.

Please do let me know if you have any questions. I would be grateful if you could pass this onto your members.

Best wishes,

Alison Rose”
Alison ROSE | HM Ambassador | British Embassy Belgium | Foreign & Commonwealth Office