Tusk says MPs’ claim about EU and UK citizens ‘has nothing to do with reality’

BRUSSELS, 30 Nov. - (ANA) - MPs’ claim that the EU is frustrating negotiations over the rights of Brits living abroad “has nothing to do with reality”, the European Council president has said in a stinging letter.

MPs and MEPs alleged the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier was preventing the UK’s efforts to speak to other EU countries about giving Britons in those countries the right to continue to live and work there, in exchange for the same for EU citizens in Britain.

In a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk from MP Michael Tomlinson, and signed by scores of other parliamentarians, Tomlinson said this was causing “anxiety and uncertainty”.

Tusk wrote back: “It is a very interesting argument, the only problem being that it has nothing to do with reality.”

He added the Britain should trigger the formal process of leaving the EU under Article 50 to begin any negotiations.

He said: “Wouldn’t you agree that the only source of anxiety and uncertainty is rather the decision on Brexit?

“And that the only way to dispel the fears and doubts of all the citizens concerned, is the quickest possible start of the negotiations based on Art. 50 of the Treaty?” - (ANA) -

AB/ANA/ 30 November 2016 - - -