MEP Marlene Mizzi took a strong stance on EU citizens’ rights in the Brexit negotiations with the United Kingdom.

“There are more than 3 million EU citizens residing in the United Kingdom, including many Maltese nationals, and more than 1 million EU citizens of the United Kingdom residing in the EU. They are all asking the same question: What will happen to me, my family, my job, my business, my studies after Brexit is finalised?” said MEP Mizzi in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. 

MEPs discussed this week the progress in the Brexit talks with Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier. At the end of the debate, the Parliament approved a resolution sending a message to the Council that there need to be a major breakthrough in line with the Parliament’s position on the UK withdrawal agreement.

During her intervention in the plenary session, Marlene Mizzi said: “People are worried and they have a right to be worried about their future, because they do not really know what will happen to them come Brexit day. Moving to another country is a major decision usually based on the rights they will have in that country. Rights that will ensure that they are treated equally and that they would continue to enjoy throughout their lives in that country!”

“Maintaining the whole set of European rules on citizens’ rights with the full application of the four freedoms, without imposing unnecessary hardship  for the citizens of the EU living in the United Kingdom and vice-versa is the main prerequisite for the success of these negotiations,” said MEP Mizzi.

“There is an absolute need to incorporate the full set of rights citizens currently enjoy into the withdrawal agreement. The work of the EU negotiating team will determine the fate of over 4 million citizens, and that is why I voted in favour of this resolution that defends people's interests,” commented Marlene Mizzi after the vote on the Parliament resolution.