Brexit breakthrough: Spain backs PM's bid to win fair deal for British expats

SPAIN has boosted Theresa May’s bid to win a fair Brexit deal for British expats living in the EU by voicing its support for a mutual agreement.

Theresa MayGETTY

Theresa May is seeking protections for UK nationals living abroad

The Prime Minister has been keen to secure a commitment from EU member states over the rights of UK nationals currently living on the continent after Brexit.

Mrs May has been adamant she cannot offer a similar guarantee for EU nationals in the UK until those protections for British expats are also in place.

Her attempts to secure an early agreement on the issue were rebuffed late last year by German chancellor Angela Merkel and European Council president Donald Tusk.

But with the Prime Minister due to trigger Article 50 and begin EU divorce talks within the next 11 days, there now appears to be a breakthrough on the issue.

Spain has backed “in principle” a common agreement for EU and UK nationals living abroad.

The country’s EU secretary Jorge Toledo, who will lead Madrid’s negotiations over Brexit, told The Times: “We are broadly in favour of retaining a reciprocal agreement on questions like healthcare and freedom of movement.

“As regards the rights of EU citizens in the UK and the rights of UK citizens in the EU, Spain is in favour of the amplest respect of these rights in the future but the modalities and conditions will and should be a matter of negotiation.”

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A total of 1.2million people born in the UK live in other EU countries, with Spain hosting the largest group of British expats at an estimated 310,000. Many live in seaside towns along the country’s Costas.

The Government have insisted the rights of EU nationals and British expats will be at the top of the agenda when Brexit talks begin, with Mrs May keen to secure an early deal on the issue.

Last week, the House of Commons scrapped a House of Lords bid to write a commitment to EU nationals into law by dumping the peers’ proposed amendment to the Article 50 Bill.

With the legislation now having been granted Royal Assent, Mrs May is now free to formally notify Brussels of Britain’s departure from the EU whenever she likes.

This week, the Prime Minister is expected to tour Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland before triggering Brexit negotiations.

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