The European Commission announced on Monday that it had referred the matter to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) over alleged obstacles to the free movement of EU citizens and their families in the United Kingdom, which occurred at the end of 2020, in the context of Brexit.
In a statement, Brussels criticised London for not having respected the terms of the agreement guaranteeing the rights of European citizens residing in Great Britain before the end of 2020. This agreement provided that these citizens and their families would benefit from the same rights as those they enjoyed before the United Kingdom's official exit from the European Union, which took place on 31 January 2020.
Tensions persist despite rapprochement
The legal action comes as relations between the European Union and the United Kingdom appear to have calmed since the Labour Prime Minister came to power. Keir Starmer last July. He expressed his desire to "reset" ties between the two parties, after several years of post-Brexit tensions.
Despite regular exchanges between the European Commission and the British authorities since 2020, several points of disagreement remain. The EU deplores in particular obstacles to the rights of European workers as well as members of their extended families. These grievances, which have remained unanswered by London, led Brussels to refer the matter to the CJEU to enforce the commitments made in the withdrawal agreement.
The legal proceedings highlight the continuing challenges of Brexit, despite efforts by both sides to move on from tensions. As London seeks to rebuild trust with its former European partners, the case could reignite heated debates over the implementation of post-Brexit agreements and respect for citizens' rights.
The ECJ's decision, which could take several months, will be crucial in clarifying the UK's obligations to EU citizens. It could also redefine the contours of future cooperation between London and Brussels.
