A joint statement by the Specialised Committee on Citizens' Rights between the European Commission and UK government:
The eighth meeting of the Specialised Committee on Citizens' Rights was held on 16 September 2021, co-chaired by officials from the UK government and the European Commission. A number of representatives from EU member states were also in attendance. The Committee has been established by the Withdrawal Agreement to monitor the implementation and application of the Citizens' Rights part of the Withdrawal Agreement, which protects UK nationals in the EU and EU citizens in the UK, including their family members.
The UK and the EU discussed the implementation and application of the Citizens' Rights part of the Withdrawal Agreement, noting the upcoming deadline for applications in Finland and the Netherlands. The Committee calls upon UK nationals living in Finland and the Netherlands to apply by the deadline on 30 September 2021, if they are yet to do so.
The EU reiterated concern raised since August 2020 regarding the compatibility of the UK's EU Settlement Scheme with the Withdrawal Agreement, noting it was not giving legal clarity to EU citizens, who hold a new residence status, as to whether their rights are guaranteed by the Withdrawal Agreement or UK immigration law. The EU expressed concern that EU citizens will lose their residence status if they do not apply for settled status before their pre-settled status expires and called upon the UK to resolve these issues.
The EU welcomed the UK plans to improve the protection of EU citizens who have applied for a new residence status after the end of the grace period on 30 June 2021 and asked for clarifications. The EU raised additional concerns about the issuance of certificates of application, the rights of extended family members of EU citizens with EEA family permits and the possibility to apply for a new residence status from within the UK by family members who join EU citizens resident in the UK. The EU asked for
