EU citizens face ongoing barriers five years after Brexit
The Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens Rights Agreements (IMA) finds that barriers to accessing rights are still a problem for some citizens five years on from Brexit.
The IMA has published the results of its latest survey of more than 2,200 EU and EEA EFTA citizens, and their family members, living in the UK and Gibraltar.
The findings show that while 97% of respondents are aware of their rights, one in five reported experiencing difficulties in accessing them, including the right to work, live, and travel.
Of those who reported difficulties accessing their rights, 42% were still waiting an outcome on their EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) application, 35% held pre-settled status, and 37% of those reporting difficulties were from an ethnic minority background.
These figures are significant as citizens with pre-settled status or awaiting an outcome may find it more difficult to access their rights than those with settled status.
In addition to barriers accessing rights, 35% of respondents reported feeling discriminated against by public bodies since Brexit. Half of those reporting discrimination were from ethnic minority backgrounds.
A further key finding of the survey was the possible impact on future generations (citizens who are currently 21 and under, and children not yet born). A significant percentage of parents or guardians who responded to our survey (38%) said they had not applied to the EUSS for their child.
The main reason (72%) for not applying for a child was a belief that at the time of birth their child held British citizenship due to being born in the UK. A further 13% of respondents were just not aware that they needed to apply to the EUSS for their child.
At the time of birth, to automatically gain British citizenship one or more parents must either be a British citizen themselves or hold settled status.
The IMA is currently seeking assurance that local authorities across the UK are discharging their responsibilities with regards to making and supporting EUSS applications on behalf of all eligible looked after children, children in receipt of local authority care and support, and care leavers.
To date more than 150 additional eligible children and care leavers have been identified and supported to make applications to the EUSS scheme as a result of local authority enhancements. More information about our findings so far can be found on our website.
An insight into rights awareness in our survey may also indicate further impact on younger people, who were less likely to be aware of their rights, and less likely to have applied to the EUSS. Of those who said that they hadn’t applied to the EUSS in our survey, 82% were under the age of 25.
Despite the challenges identified in the IMA’s survey, 61% of citizens expressed trust in public bodies to uphold their rights, an encouraging figure for future engagement with public bodies in effectively upholding citizens’ rights.
When asked why respondents did not trust public bodies to uphold their rights, 25% said general lack of trust because of issues such as denied applications, while 13 % said it was due to a fear of being treated unequally. A further 11% were worried about future governments and the potential for harsher immigration policies.
Although 70% of respondents were unaware of the IMA before the survey, 73% wanted the organisation to take action that would make a meaningful difference to their lives. Citizens particularly sought support ensuring fair access to status and reducing barriers for future generations.
Chief Executive of the IMA Miranda Biddle said: “Five years on from Brexit, the survey results support our current understanding that whilst awareness of rights is increasing, barriers in accessing those rights remain for some citizens. It is also likely that type of issues being faced by EU and EEA EFTA citizens will only continue to evolve in complexity.
“The survey findings will help to inform the IMA’s ongoing work to monitor and promote the implementation and application of the Withdrawal and Separation Agreements. It will help to identify areas requiring urgent attention to protect both current residents and future generations.”