BRUSSELS, June 23 (Agencies):  Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain vowed on Thursday to protect the rights of millions of citizens of other European Union countries who are living in Britain after the country withdraws from the bloc.
May made the pledge in remarks to the leaders of the other 27 European Union nations at a summit meeting in Brussels. It was intended to allay fears about mass dislocation stemming from Britain's decision to withdraw.
"The UK's position represents a fair and serious offer," May told the leaders over dinner at the summit talks. She said she wanted to give "as much certainty as possible to citizens who have settled in the UK, building careers and lives and contributing so much to our society."
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at the end of an EU summit in Brussels on Friday that proposals from Theresa May on preserving the rights of EU citizens after Brexit were "not the breakthrough".
Speaking at a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, Merkel said: "It was a good start but it was also not the breakthrough, to put it conservatively."
"It became clear during the discussion last night that we have a long path ahead of us. And the 27 (other EU countries), especially Germany and France, will be well prepared, we will not allow ourselves to be divided."
The two leaders also made clear that they would not pursue changes to the EU's Lisbon Treaty unless reform of the bloc demanded it, saying much could be achieved short of treaty change.
And they sent the same message to eastern countries like Poland and Hungary who have been accused by the European Commission of threatening the rule of law by taking steps to limit the powers of the media and judiciary.
More than three million citizens of other European Union countries live in Britain, while more than one million Britons live in the other 27 nations. Many of these people have formed families and raised children, and have been anxious about their status since the referendum a year ago when British voters decided to leave the union.
May is expected to present her plans in far greater detail on Monday in London, and she left important questions unanswered in her remarks Thursday evening. Some of the substance of her plans appeared to be sharply at odds with her European counterparts' expectations.
A key issue is setting a cut-off date for European Union citizens living in Britain to qualify for what is called settled status, allowing them to remain indefinitely. The date must fall sometime between March 29, 2017, the day May formally notified the union of its intention to withdraw, and the day the withdrawal actually takes effect - two years after the notice was given, barring an extension.
European Union officials have said they want Britain to guarantee their citizens' rights to live in Britain right up to the date of withdrawal, or Brexit as it is known. And they want the Court of Justice of the European Union to oversee residency and rights to education, healthcare and pensions. [Read More]

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Source: The Financial Express