The European
Parliament's top Brexit negotiator backed the idea of individual European Union
memberships for Britons who want to stay in the bloc in an interview
published
on Saturday.
Former Belgian Prime
Minister Guy Verhofstadt, a European federalist and arch-foe of eurosceptics
said there were legal obstacles - but in principle he supported individual EU
memberships for Britons, paid by annual fee.
"Many say 'we
don't want to cut our links'. I like the idea that people who are European
citizens and saying they want to keep it have the possibility of doing
so," he told the Times.
Andrew Bridgen, a pro-Brexit
British member of parliament, said Verhofstadt's comments were designed to
divide Britons and undermine June's vote to leave the EU.
"The truth is
that Brussels will try every trick in the book to stop us leaving," he
told the Times.
The European
Parliament will have a limited role in the detailed negotiations with British
Prime Minister Theresa May, once she formally launches the process triggered by
the June 23 referendum vote to leave the bloc.
But members of
European Parliament will have to pass legislation to enact a divorce, and
possibly other agreements.
Earlier this week,
Verhofstadt said the European Parliament would not accept an agreement for
Britain's exit from the European Union that would endanger any of the four EU
freedoms, including the freedom of movement of people.
Reuters
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