Guy Verhofstadt Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images

If you were keeping your fingers crossed that we might all wake up and find Brexit was a horrible dream, there might be a little hope on the horizon.

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The European Parliament’s chief negotiator has confirmed that EU negotiators will offer British people the chance to individually opt-in and remain EU citizens.

Speaking to The Independent Guy Verhofstadt said he had ‘fast-tracked’ the idea to the negotiating table – although it remains to be seen if it will be accepted as part of the final deal.

Verhofstadt said that the ‘very important’ proposal had ‘captured the imagination and hopes’ of the British people.




The idea of ‘associate citizenship’ of the EU was first mooted in November by Charles Goerens, a liberal MEP from Luxembourg.

Although slightly vague on fine detail, His plan would guarantee rights, such as residency, to people who pay a fee.

Statement on my proposal for an offer of individual associate EU citizenship. #Brexit https://t.co/kSvMdF3XxF — Charles Goerens (@CharlesGoerens) November 9, 2016

The EU member states, which would need to back the idea, could vote on it some time this year.

Guy Verhofstadt, who will represent the European Parliament in the Brexit talks, signalled his support for the associate citizenship idea last year

Tom Brake, Shadow Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, supported the idea at the Lib Dem Spring conference (Picture:PA)

And in the UK the idea has received the backing of delegates at the Liberal Democrat Spring conference in York, reports the Yorkshire Post.

Foreign affairs spokesman,Tom Brake. said: ‘This is not an attempt to divide British people into two classes, as suggested by the political pipsqueak [Conservative MP] Andrew Bridgen.

‘It is an attempt to offer as many of the benefits of EU citizenship to UK citizens as possible.

‘Associate citizenship could provide the hundreds of thousands of young people who voted to stay in the EU the opportunities they are going to be deprived of otherwise.’

A motion calling for people to have access to associate membership was backed by delegates at the conference.

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