A conference held by New Europeans UK has received significant media coverage – after highlighting how many EU citizens could be left without proof of their right to stay in the UK.
The meeting held in Parliament last week (9th of December) gave a voice to groups working with vulnerable communities across the UK. It was hosted by new Liberal Democrat MP, Manuela Perteghella, herself an EU citizen, originally from Italy.
MP and Peers heard how hundreds of thousands of vulnerable EU citizens, who have yet to secure their immigration status after Brexit, could be left undocumented. This could result in people being unable to prove their right to remain in the UK, and hence denied employment and access to services. The meeting has received widespread coverage in Brussels based news outlets covering EU affairs. In the UK the story featured in Yorkshire Bylines.
Lydia Martin, Co-ordinator of Civil Society EUSS Alliance, which represents over 200 organisations, explained how a lack of digital, language, and literacy skills prevents many from accessing the application process. This tends to affect vulnerable groups, which can include older people, women, and ethnic minorities, she told the meeting.
Lydia Martin, who is also Deputy Head of Projects at New Europeans UK, warned that people risk being locked out of the system, if they are not able to access or find free accredited advice services.
The digital EU Settlement Scheme was introduced by the UK government following the Withdrawal Agreement with the EU. Around four million EU citizens have been granted settled status (after proving at least five years of residence), while 1.7 million have been granted pre-settled status. But 15% of applicants had other outcomes, including refused and invalid applications.
Among the publications reporting on the meeting was Brussels Morning:
Some EU citizens in UK “excluded” from vital services – conference told
and
EU Today: EUSS Alliance: Citizens Raise Post-Brexit Concerns in UK Parliament.
A number of business publications also brought the story, including Global Business News:
Parliament hears EU Citizens being ‘Locked Out of Exercising Their Rights’ in the UK
In the UK the story featured in Yorkshire Bylines:
UK’s settled status system could leave EU citizens out in the cold