Brexit: Polish, British PMs agree to guarantee rights of Poles in UK
PR dla Zagranicy
Victoria Bieniek
19.01.2017 11:52
Guarantees for Poles and other EU citizens living in the UK should be made as quickly as possible, the Polish and British Prime Ministers have said, as Britain's exit of the EU looms.
Прем’єр-міністр Польщі Беата Шидло Photo: premier.gov.pl.
The guarantees were discussed in a Wednesday phone conversation between Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło and her British counterpart Theresa May, deputy Foreign Minister Konrad Szymański has said.
The conversation, requested by May, followed her much anticipated Wednesday Brexit strategy speech in London.
"Prime Minister Szydło put forward her specific expectations regarding the guarantee of rights gained by Poles in Great Britain,” Szymański said, adding that the heads of government agreed those guarantees should be determined “as quickly as possible” .
According to Szymański, Szydło said an agreement on social benefits and access to public services for Poles in the UK needs to be precise and legally binding.
“We are not looking for bilateral solutions in the matter,” Szymański said, adding that "We think this matter should be resolved at the EU level, because its pertains to coordinating social benefits [for EU citizens] after the UK ceases to be a member of the EU.”
The Prime Ministers also discussed the UK’s commitments to the EU budget, future trade relations between Britain and the bloc, and security.
(vb/rg)
Source: PAP