EU citizens denied their rights in the UK

On December 11, 2024, a conference organized by New Europeans UK highlighted significant concerns regarding the challenges faced by EU citizens in the United Kingdom in securing their rights through the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). Hundreds of thousands of vulnerable EU citizens are reportedly at risk of falling undocumented, which could lead to their exclusion from employment and inability to access essential health and social care services. Lydia Martin, Deputy Head of Projects at New Europeans UK, discussed the complexities surrounding applications for the EUSS, emphasizing that legal advice is crucial for those facing issues with their status. The UK government created the EUSS to facilitate residency applications for EU citizens who moved to the UK before December 2020. While millions of applications have been processed and granted, reports indicate that over a million applications have been rejected. Consequently, organizations providing assistance to EU citizens primarily encounter cases involving late or denied applications, exacerbating the situation for those already in precarious positions. Currently, there are over six million EU citizens in the UK who are required to secure their immigration status through the EUSS. With eight million applications submitted since the scheme's inception, the unresolved status of many EU citizens raises the prospect of job loss, eviction, and border control issues. As organizations continue to support these individuals, they have documented cases where EU citizens have lost employment or faced discrimination from landlords due to their residency status. Additionally, the conference pointed out the broader implications for EU citizens living in the UK regarding their representation. While UK citizens abroad can vote without restrictions, their voices are diluted due to a weak system of representation in Parliament, as they are connected to MPs based on their last UK residence, which might date back several decades. Advocacy groups emphasize the need for a more robust representation for these citizens, suggesting a two-stage approach to establishing overseas constituencies and ensuring proper representation for EU citizens residing outside of the UK.