In June 2016, the United Kingdom decided to leave the European Union. The intended withdrawal will have an important effect on the rights of affected citizens, e. g. European Union Member States’ citizens residing in the United Kingdom and the United Kingom’s citizens residing in European Union Member States. Brexit will especially affect the rights of residence and work in another Member State, enshrined in provisions of the TEU and the TFEU on the EU citizenship and free movement of workers. As prescribed by the Article 50 of the TEU, following the negotiations both sides agreed on the text of the withdrawal agreement, which aims to maintain the current status of affected citizens to the greatest extent possible. The enforcement of the agreement is put in question by internal conflicts in the United Kingdom and consequently there is a high probability of the far more uncertain withdrawal without a deal. In a no-deal scenario there is a possibility that the affected citizens will become third citizens in relation to their host state or that their situation will be governed by unilateral measures or else that the future arrangement will be based on agreements.
Besides the main question of withdrawal with or without a deal, the debate surrounding Brexit puts forward a number of issues. Among the most interesting are: what will happen to acquired rights of citizens; can host states expel affected citizens after the withdrawal; can citizens of the United Kingdom keep the European citizenship; and, last but not least, can the United Kingdom unilaterally revoke the withdrawal notification.
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