The Irish Times: Eastern states want soft Brexit
22 June 2017
While much of the debate over Brexit negotiations has so far been dominated by Western European leaders, the Irish Times interviewed politicians in Eastern Europe who are lobbying for a soft Brexit to protect their economies and the rights of their citizens living in the UK.
The Latvian Foreign Minister expressed his concern that the status of EU citizens in the UK could become hostage to political games. Although Latvia’s population stands at only 2 million, 150,000 Latvians are currently resident in the UK and the country is one the most dependent on remittances. Countries such as Poland, with 1 million citizens in the UK, and Romania and Lithuania, with 200,000 face the same dilemma. The article adds that Eastern European states are also highly concerned about post-Brexit security concerns as the UK represents a major military power and a strong advocate of sanctions against Russia.
Sourcing and translation by European Movement International (Brussels)
© The Irish Times
