The home secretary has accused Brussels of neglecting the post-Brexit rights of UK ex-pats living in Europe, claiming the EU's preparations are "not good enough".

Sajid Javid has called upon EU countries to publish more concrete details on how UK nationals living across the European Union will be able to secure their status after Brexit.

His demand comes as the government publishes a statement of intent and draft immigration rules on the settlement scheme proposed for EU citizens who are resident in the UK.

Image: Sajid Javid says the UK has met its obligations, now it is the EU's turn

"Publishing details of how we will administer our settled status scheme shows we are honouring the commitments made towards EU citizens living in the UK," said Mr Javid.

"But I am concerned that I have not seen any similar plans on how EU member states are going to support British nationals in their countries.


"This is not good enough and I hope both the European Parliament and Commission will exert more pressure for them to do this as soon as possible."

Earlier this week, Mr Javid met the European Parliament's Brexit negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt MEP, who was in London for talks with government ministers and to appear before two committees of MPs.

According to the Home Office, during the meeting Mr Verhofstadt acknowledged that the EU's 27 member states had not done enough to set out what the procedures will be for ex-pat Britons living across the EU.

The Home Office claims Mr Verhofstadt confirmed that this would be a priority.

The UK's settlement scheme, which will allow EU citizens living here and their family members to obtain their new UK immigration status, will open in a phased way from later this year.

This follows the citizens' rights agreement with Brussels which guaranteed the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and UK nationals living in EU member states.

Image: Irish PM Leo Varadkar warned 'there isn't much time' left before Brexit

Mr Javid is expected to set out more details on how the government's scheme will operate in a statement to MPs in the House of Commons.

The government claims publication of its statement of intent and draft immigration rules will provide further reassurance to EU citizens and their families by detailing who is eligible, how people will be able to apply and what it will cost.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar also intervened on Thursday to claim that the backstop solution on the Northern Ireland/ Republic of Ireland border "cannot have an expiry date".

"Let me blunt," he told reporters at a meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

"There isn't much time yet if we are to conclude an agreement and have it operational by the time the UK leaves next March."