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<p>The Government has set out a unilateral offer to protect the rights of EU citizens
living in the UK in all scenarios, and has been urging all Member States to do the
same for UK nationals living in their countries.</p><p>Despite the welcome progress
made by some Member States to protect the rights of UK nationals in their countries,
there are other areas where the offer to UK nationals falls short, particularly in
relation to healthcare. This is why the Government supported the objective of the
Costa amendment on the 27 February, as a ring-fenced agreement would achieve our aim
of providing certainty to citizens whatever the outcome of negotiations. The Government
is now writing to the EU institutions seeking clarity on their position in regards
to ring-fencing the citizens’ rights part of the Withdrawal Agreement.</p><p>If a
joint UK-EU commitment to ring-fence citizens cannot be achieved, protecting the rights
of UK nationals in the EU would, in a no deal, ultimately be a matter for the EU and
individual Member States. We are urging them to take all necessary measures to do
so. The Foreign Secretary has written to all of his counterparts, and the Government
is holding further urgent discussions with Member States to seek assurances on the
rights of UK nationals in the EU.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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