A big chunk of Goans are settled down in the UK and other EU countries with the help of Portuguese passports have good news. According to the reports, they have will be given permanent citizenship as the rest of the EU Citizens and they will also eligible to enjoy the same privileges that any Britton. What more anyone could ask for??
There is already a big issue over the use of Portuguese passport by the Goans, as dual citizenship is not allowed in India. But the huge number of Goans are enjoying all the privileges abroad, and at the same time retain their citizenship in India.
According to the reports, More than three million EU nationals who are living in the UK have been allowed to stay permanently there following the Brexit and they will be treated as British citizens.
The above rule came into the existence following the Prime Minister made a “Fair and Serious Offer” to the European leaders in Brussels as she pledged that all those who arrived in Britain before she triggered Article 50 in March will be entitled to stay.
One more good news came after the Prime Minister brought to the notice she did not want to break up the families paving the way to the Spouses and Children of the EU nationals to join their families in the UK. However, she said it is “vital” that any deal will have to be “reciprocal” and based on the European Union granting the one million British citizens who live in Europe the same rights.
She also refused to meet EU demands that the “cut-off date”, after which EU citizens will no longer automatically be entitled to stay in the UK, should fall on the day that Britain leaves the European Union. She instead said that it will be a matter for negotiation and could fall at any point between March 29, 2017, the date that Article 50 was triggered, and the date that Britain leaves the European Union, which is expected to be in March 2019.
All those arriving after the “cut-off date” will be given a two year “grace period” after Britain Brexit and will be subsequently expected to obtain a work permit or return to their home countries. If the cut-off date falls in 2019, as the EU demands, it effectively means that freedom of movement will continue until 2021.
“According to the reports, More than three million EU nationals who are living in the UK have been allowed to stay permanently there following the Brexit and they will be treated like British citizens”
Prime Minister Mrs May also set up a further clash with the European Union by rejecting demands that the European Court of Justice should continue to oversee the rights of EU migrants after Brexit. She said: “The commitment that we make to EU citizens will be enshrined in EU law and enforced through our highly-respected courts”.
She told European leaders after a working dinner in Brussels: “The UK’s position represents a fair and serious offer, one aimed at giving as much certainty as possible to citizens who have settled in the UK, building careers and lives and contributing so much to our society.” A senior official added: “We will be aiming to treat them [EU migrants] as if they were UK citizens for healthcare, education, benefits, and pensions.”
Under the plans, those who have already lived in the UK for five years will be granted “settled status” and allowed to live in Britain permanently. Anyone arriving before the “cut-off date” will also be entitled to stay permanently, as long as they remain in Britain for at least five years. The offer will even apply to those who arrive just a day before the date.
However, Mrs May has resisted demands to guarantee the rights of EU migrants until the day Britain leaves the European Union. Ministers have raised concerns that doing so could lead to a “surge” in the number of EU migrants coming to the UK before Brexit. It will also give Mrs May significant leverage in negotiations.
The Prime Minister made clear that enshrining the rights of EU migrants living in the UK law will be a red line. A senior British official said, “We have been clear on the European Court of Justice that we are taking back control of our own laws.” The Prime Minister also vowed to “streamline” applications to remain amid concerns that there are currently huge backlogs.
A senior official said: “The PM signalled that the administration of the system would be as streamlined as possible using digital tools to register people in a light touch way.”
There are several details about the offer which will be spelt out on Monday. Mrs May did not explicitly say whether the spouses of EU migrants will be allowed to join them in the UK. She also did not say whether EU citizens will be able to continue sending child benefit back home if their children do not live in the UK.
SOURCE: EMPOWERING GOANS
