By ben Kerrigan-
European Council President Donald Tusk, has criticized the UK plan for EU citizens presented by Theresa May. He described the proposals as “below expectations” . He said he wanted more details about the proposal, emphasizing his desire to see all EU residents in Britain with guaranteed rights
The prime minister expressed a guarantee of rights to those who have “made their lives and homes” in the UK., but this wasn’t enough for EU bosses who wanted her to elaborate a lot more. Theresa May has previously been criticized for failing to unilaterally guarantee the rights of EU citizens in the UK, yet Tusk himself has still not presented any guarantees to the UK. Some 3.2 million EU citizens live in Britain, in contrast to the estimated 1.2 million Britons living in EU countries.May appears to be slightly cautious in dealing her cards, in case the same guarantees are not awarded to brits living abroad.
We can’t blame May, after all Tusk is on the same team as Juncker , who is a bit of a strange character in many respects, often bullish in his approach to get his own way. May has always asserted her stand that expats in EU countries should equally be be guaranteed rights of stay, a position many of her critics don’t take kindly too. However, as prime minister, May is playing the smart and necessary card. It would backfire in her face if she were to take the unilateral route of offering guarantees without an expectation that those guarantees would be reciprocated. She alone will have to pick up the pieces of a terrible judgement.
BEGINNING
German Chancellor, Angella Merkel refereed to the proposals as ”a good beginning’ but – and I’m trying to word this very carefully – it was not a breakthrough,” she said.
“We don’t want a wedge to be driven between us. We do want to make our interests very clear and if there is no guarantee for the full freedoms, then this exercise will have to lead to a situation where there are certain effects on the future relationship between the UK and the 27 member states.”
Mr Tusk said the EU would “analyse line by line” the UK’s proposals, something the media and various interested parties would already be doing. May is clearly in favour of supporting rights that are deserved, but doesn’t want a one sided deal that could leave her with egg on her face. The implications of every proposal by the Uk, and it’s response by EU bosses must be closely evaluated. Operating blindly will be a foolish thing to do. EU leaders will be aware that May’s political bargaining power has weakened, but the prime minister can strengthen it by being ahead on the thinking cards and having her best analysts and advisers close. She knows a balance is necessary, whatever way this is viewed.
EU leaders ofcourse have their expectations, but those expectations must measure up to a fair outcome for both parties. Otherwise, we will have a stalemate situation in which nobody is willing to compromise a fair deal.