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The Provost and unions press the government on EU/EEA citizens' status

24 August 2016

On 18 August, UCL President & Provost Professor Michael Arthur and UCL's campus trade unions and UCLU released a joint statement to the Prime Minister and MPs calling for the government to make a clear, up-front guarantee that all currently resident EU/EEA citizens in the UK will be entitled to continue to stay, study and work in the country following the UK's exit from the EU.

UCL President & Provost Professor Michael Arthur

The text of the letter is replicated below:

Dear Prime Minister,

EU/EEA Citizens - a joint statement by UCL, its campus Trade Unions and Student Union

University College London (UCL) is an international community of scholars - London's Global University. A substantial proportion of our staff and students are non-UK EU or EEA nationals, who make a vital contribution to making UCL one of the world's leading universities. They are integral to our success story. 



Recognising their contribution, we believe the time is right for the government to make a clear, up-front guarantee that all currently-resident EU/EEA citizens in the UK will be entitled to continue to stay, study and work in the country following the UK's exit from the EU. To do so would send a clear signal to European partners that we trust and expect the same treatment for all Britons currently entitled to live elsewhere in the EU27.



We believe that such a guarantee can and should be made independently of future Brexit negotiations. The government needs to ensure greater certainty for employers and for staff. To ensure the ongoing success of universities such as UCL, this is a guarantee that needs to be made now, not in two years' time.  

We believe that the time is right for the whole UK university sector to call on the government to protect EU/EEA citizens living and working in the UK with an up-front guarantee of their permanent right to stay. The Higher Education sector needs to retain talented employees if it is to remain home to some of the world's best universities. 

Yours sincerely

Professor Michael Arthur
President & Provost, UCL

More information
For further Brexit-related statements from UCL, please visit the UCL EU referendum advice website.