Invitation

“EU citizenship in times of Brexit”

30 March 2018, Leuven

The EU and the UK have had a complicated relationship from the outset. In February 2016, an attempt was made within the European Council at redefining this relationship, which focused to a large extent on citizenship-related issues. The European Council conclusions that were adopted that month stated, inter alia, that the references in the Treaties and their preambles to the process of creating “an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe” do not apply to the United Kingdom, and they proposed to amend the existing rules on EU citizens and their family members in order to make them somewhat more restrictive.

However, the proposed settlement was rejected when, on June 23^rd, 2016, a small majority of British votes was cast in favour of the so-called “Brexit”, thereby triggering a two-year period of negotiations, in accordance with Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. As far as the EU is concerned, it is readily apparent from the guidelines for Brexit negotiations of the European Council and the negotiation directives of the Council that EU citizenship plays a central role in these negotiations. In fact, the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission have repeatedly stated that one of the first priorities for the negotiations is to agree on guarantees to protect the rights of EU citizens, and their family members, that are affected by Brexit. At the same time, the United Kingdom has made it clear that it wants to limit the rights of EU citizens and their family members in the UK, in particular their right to free movements and residence.

It is inevitable, therefore, that, in the context of the Brexit negotiations, the concept of EU citizenship, which was destined to be the fundamental status of all Member State nationals, will be deeply challenged. It remains to be seen how the concept of EU citizenship and the rights attached to it emerge from the negotiations.

Beyond the actual Brexit negotiations, the debate pre-referendum and the discussions since then raise a number of fundamental questions that touch upon the three “prongs” of the concept of EU citizenship under EU law:

1.      The rights of EU citizens being economic migrants;

2.      The rights of EU citizens beyond employment;

3.      The political rights of EU citizens.

This workshop is intended to explore the impact that Brexit and the debate it has triggered may have on these three prongs of the concept of EU citizenship, in particular for the Member states remaining in the EU after Brexit.

To register as a participant, please click here.