Britain must obey free movement laws until it leaves EU, say MEPs

Britain must obey laws of the European Union (EU) on free movement until it leaves the bloc, EU lawmakers stressed in a plenary here.

In a late-night debate with the European Commission on Wednesday, the bloc's executive arm, a majority of members of the European Parliament (MEPs) urged that the free movement rights of EU citizens living in Britain must be ensured.

The MEPs stressed the uncertainty in which the 3.1 million EU nationals living in Britain were left after the June 2016 referendum on EU membership.

They insisted that these citizens' right to free movement should be guaranteed as long as Britain remains a member of the EU and that their acquired rights must be respected even after it leaves.

It comes amid reports that British Prime Minister Theresa May is to end automatic rights given to EU nationals to stay in Britain, when she triggers Article 50.

British media said Britain would establish a "cut-off date" of around March 15 . The EU citizens who are already in Britain and others who come before that date would have their rights protected -- providing the EU agreed to the same status for British citizens living in the EU.

By highlighting the plight of British citizens living in other EU member states, many speakers also underlined that EU citizens should not be used as "bargaining chips" in the Brexit negotiations.

"Free movement is one of the EU's basic rights", said Vera Jourova, EU commissioner in charge of justice, consumers and gender equality, making it clear that as long as Britain is a member state, all EU rights and obligations continue to apply.

She agreed that EU citizens deserve certainty and fairness, but reminded MEPs that there will be "no negotiation (with the British authorities) before notification" of their intention to leave the EU. Enditem