The European Parliament is considering a plan to let Brits “opt-in” to keep their EU citizenship after Britain leaves the bloc.
A proposal put forward by a liberal MEP from Luxembourg could grant citizens of former EU member states the voluntary right to retain “associate citizenship” of the bloc.
Brexiteers have reacted angrily to the gesture, describing it as “totally unacceptable.”
Charles Gorens submitted the amendment to the parliament’s Constitutional Affairs Committee, which is drawing up a report on “possible evolutions of and adjustments to the current institutional set-up of the European Union.”
Amendment 882 would allow British citizens to keep free movement across the EU and give them the right to vote in European Parliament elections, meaning they would still be represented in Brussels.
The proposal suggests the offer of “European associate citizenship for those who feel and wish to be part of the European project but are nationals of a former Member State; offers these associate citizens the rights of freedom of movement and to reside on its territory as well as being represented in the Parliament through a vote in the European elections on the European lists.”
Brexiteer Jayne Adye, director of the Get Britain Out campaign, responded by accusing the EU of trying to divide the UK.
“This is an outrage. The EU is now attempting to divide the great British public at the exact moment we need unity. 17.4 million people voted to Leave the EU on 23 June and as a result the UK as a whole will get Brexit,” she said.
“Brexit means laws which impact the people of the UK will be created by accountable politicians in Westminster. It is totally unacceptable for certain citizens in the UK to subject themselves to laws which are created by politicians who are not accountable the British people as a whole.
“Discriminating against people based on their political views shows there are no depths the EU will not sink to.”