Eurocrats’ bonkers plan to charge Brits for individual EU membership after Brexit exposed
The proposal would give Remoaners the chance to 'opt out' of Brexit
REMOANERS wanting to live and work in Europe could pay for individual EU citizenship under barmy new plans backed by a top Brexit negotiator.
The plans would mean Brits would have to send an annual fee to Brussels to retain EU membership benefits to opt out of Brexit.
Brexit negotiator and former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt told he supported the idea as part of his fight for the “rights of the 48 per cent” of Brits who voted for Remain.
He said: “Many say ‘We don’t want to cut our links.
“I like the idea that people who are European citizens and saying they want to keep it have the possibility of doing so. As a principle I like it.”
MEPs will vote on the proposals, submitted to the European Parliament, by the end of the year.
The plans - originally put forward by liberal MEP Charles Goerens - must be approved by all EU nations to become part of any post-Brexit deal with Britain.
Brexiteers hit out at the proposal and accused Verhofstadt of causing mischief.
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Andrew Bridgen, Tory MP for North West Leicestershire, said: “It’s an attempt to create two classes of UK citizen and to subvert the referendum vote. The truth is that Brussels will try every trick in the book to stop us leaving.”
The plans aim to give full rights to Remoaners who want to “opt in” individually to EU membership.
Paying the annual fee would allow them free movement around the EU, the right to live in other European countries under existing rules and the right to vote in EU elections.
Verhofstadt, leader of the liberal bloc of MEPs in the parliament, admitted there is opposition from those who “think it is too easy” to allow Brits to choose citizenship.
He said: “I don’t know if it will fly or not — there are big differences of view here in the parliament".
The European parliament’s constitutional affairs committee will vote on the idea on December 8.
Regardless of the outcome, the proposals will be voted on by all MEPs before the end of the year.
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