However it is understood that Barnier’s priority is to protect the rights of EU citizens already in the UK and British nationals already living in the rest of the EU. He is also determined that all rights given to British nationals are reciprocated by the British government in respect of EU nationals. “I would offer British citizens the rights that Guy Verhofstadt is talking about but it must be reciprocal,” he said. The government’s promises over EU citizens being able to remain in Britain have not provided reassurance, the heads of dozens of Oxford colleges said. They will have to decide whether to accept a pair of amendments added by peers – on the rights of EU citizens and granting parliament a meaningful vote at the end of the process.

Source: The Guardian March 13, 2017 06:27 UTC