Guarantees rights of EU citizens in U.K.

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday called for a two-year transition period for Brexit, offered guarantees over the rights of EU citizens resident in Britain, and pledged to honour Britain’s financial commitments to the EU in a major speech in Florence as she sought to break the impasse in talks between Britain and Europe.

Britain has to exit the union by March 2019.

During the much anticipated speech, Ms. May sought to adopt a conciliatory tone, suggesting Brexit was based on the desire to take more “direct control of decisions...it does not mean we are turning our back on Europe or worse that we do not wish the EU to succeed”. She said that Britain valued the contribution of EU citizens who had made Britain their home. “We want you to stay; we value you; and we thank you for our contribution to our nation…I want to incorporate our agreement fully into U.K. law and make sure the U.K. courts can refer directly to it,” she said.

The Prime Minister also set out proposals for a “strictly time limited” transition period that would benefit people and businesses in Britain and the EU, which would operate under the terms of Britain’s current relationship to the EU and its rules and regulations.

'Registration system'

“During the implementation period, people will continue to be able to come and live and work in the UK; but there will be a registration system – an essential preparation for the new regime.” Responding to criticism that this would involve letting down those who voted to leave, she said people had also voted to ensure the process would be “orderly and smooth.”

Ms May also addressed other issues such as her ambitions for the future economic relationship, suggesting that rather than being bound by existing models for the EU’s relationship the two sides needed to be innovative and ambitious.