Rights of the EU citizens in the context of no deal Brexit scenario

Abstract

The United Kingdom joined the EU in 1973. Just two years later it was on the verge of leaving. There was a first referendum held but 67% of the British citizens voted to remain in the EU. Second referendum on the same issue was held in February 2016. Turnout was 71.8% - more than 30 million people cast their votes and by a slim 51.9% to 48.1% margin voted to leave. There were stark differences across the UK – both geographically and demographically. Also many argued that “leave” campaign was controversial and not related to the EU as a legal entity – more to its recent problems like eurozone and migration crises. Taking into account that there are only couple of days left to the Brexit day of April 12, 2019 (prolonged from original Brexit day of March 30, 2019), the most probable of all Brexit scenarios is no deal as the UK Parliament so far failed to agree on any option. On March 14, 2019 the House of Commons voted to take no deal option off the table, but the UK forgot that this is a default solution that will take place anyway in the absence of any agreement between the UK and the EU – it’s simply not UK’s internal choice to make. What did lead to the second Brexit referendum? Why did the UK question its presence in the EU? What will happen to the rights of EU citizens in no deal scenario that seems to be the most plausible at the moment? These questions will be answered in due course.