Around 800 British nationals working for the European Commission in Brussels and an unknown number working for other institutions have not been given a definitive answer to what will happen to them when the UK leaves the EU and they lose their European citizenship.
After a speech by Charles Michel, the Belgian prime minister, in the European parliament, Jean-Claude Juncker asked him to think of British officials, who he said deserved better than to be booted out.
“Brussels is a warm, welcoming environment and we’re very happy to be here,” the commission president said.
“I’d also like the Belgian authorities to apply the same generosity when it comes to extending Belgian citizenship to the British officials here in Brussels – they deserve it.
“I know that the prime minister is often overflowing with generosity and will hear our wishes.”
Belgian citizenship can be applied for after living in the country for five years and contributing to its social security system. Some applications by British EU officials for Belgian citizenship have however been rejected because commission officials have a special diplomatic tax status.
The European Commission says that EU citizenship is a pre-condition for employment of EU staff members and that “the employment of EU officials of UK nationality may be terminated under the rules of the staff regulations in the event of Brexit”. Guidance issued to staff says they can request an exemption.
Mr Juncker however last month told British staff they would not be fired once they ceased to meet the requirements for an EU job – which usually includes EU citizenship.
Speaking in the same European Parliament debate former Ukip leader Nigel Farage launched an attack on the very concept of Belgium.
“Nobody ever dares tell the truth about Belgium: Belgium is not a nation. It’s an artificial creation,” he said, citing the fact the country has multiple languages before adding: “We want to live in nation states not artificial creations.”
But Mr Michel hit back: “I should thank Nigel Farage for his good advice on the future of Belgium … He sorted out the future of the UK with Brexit and we see where that’s ended up in the UK.”
Commission recruitment aims to make its staff representative of the union’s population – though Britain has always lagged behind other countries. Just 3 to 4 per cent of commission staff are British despite British subjects making up around 12 per cent of the EU’s population.
The Independent
