MEPs have expressed concern over reports the UK is considering processing applications for settled status for EU citizens in the UK on an alphabetical basis, a proposal leading MEP Guy Verhofstadt has blasted as worthy of a budget airline.
In a statement, the European Parliament’s Brexit Steering Group (BSG) chaired by Verhofstadt, said such as approach would be “complicated, arbitrary and could create unnecessary confusion and uncertainty for millions of EU citizens already living in limbo.”
Those at the end of the alphabet may not get their status confirmed until the end of 2020 or later, which would be intolerable and contrary to the spirit of the assurances we have previously received, it added.
The BSG reiterated that the U.K.’s registration scheme must be simple, fair, user-friendly, free and provide certainty for EU citizens.”
According to media reports, the plan to process applicants in alphabetical order is one of three proposals said to be under consideration by the Home Office as they attempt to design a system which can cope with an expected flood of applications once the system opens later this year.
Verhofstadt, who heads the European Parliament’s Brexit Steering group, said in a Twitter message: “We need a simple, efficient and fair process, not one that a budget airline would be proud of.”
Home Office officials believe that the plan to register EU citizens alphabetically could be the least politically sensitive of all those under consideration, Business Insider reported.
It said two alternative plans are also under consideration. One — said to hold “quite a lot of appeal” to officials — would see applicants registered sector by sector. A third option would sort applicants by geographical region.
Both those plans, however, could risk a backlash among those left at the back of the queue.
While banks and other big businesses are pressing the government for a sectoral scheme, one industry source said that a scheme could risk negative headlines if it was seen to favour big business.
The geographical scheme could be complicated and risk a hostile reaction from whichever regions were not selected for processing first, they said, especially if London and the southeast were among the first to be processed.
In resolutions, MEPs have repeatedly stressed the importance of securing equal and fair treatment for EU citizens living in the UK and British citizens living in the EU.
The European Parliament as a whole will have the final say on the outcome of negotiations when it votes to approve or reject the withdrawal deal, to be finalised in the autumn.
