No undermining EU free movement during Brexit negotiations: Lithuanian president

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite on Wednesday said free movement of persons and other fundamental human rights cannot be undermined during Brexit negotiations.

During talks with the European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, she said Britain is "an important economic and security partner of the EU," but underlined "the EU has an obligation to ensure that EU citizens who work, study and reside in the UK, including Lithuanians, were not discriminated against and could enjoy all social guarantees."

On Wednesday, Grybauskaite stated that the country supports a cooperation model with Britain, which "is acceptable for all parties."

Britain is one of the top destinations of Lithuanian citizens leaving their country with 42.7 percent of Lithuanian emigrants choosing it as their destination of emigration last year, according to Statistics Lithuania.

Around 200,000 Lithuanians currently live in Britain, the president's office said. Lithuania's population is less than 3 million.

Barnier is currently on tour to 27 EU countries to present the upcoming negotiations and hear member states' priorities. Enditem