The UK is on its mission to complete its Brexit process and there won’t be any issues to the migrant Indians in the UK till the process gets completed, said India’s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to upper house (Rajya Sabha) of Indian Parliament on Thursday (3).
The minister was speaking following a question from Congress leader Kumar Ketkar who wanted to obtain necessary information on Indian government’s approach to protecting migrant Indians residing in the UK after Brexit.
The British Parliament is expected to begin long debate on the issues related to Brexit from January 7. In the second half of this month, there will be more clarity on the future relationship between the UK and European Union, the minister added.
The entire Brexit process is likely to take 24 months and until then there will not be any issues to the Indians residing in the UK, Swaraj assured.
In her written statement, Swaraj, after March 29 when the UK moves out of the European Union (EU), there will be a transition period until the end of 2019 and during the transition period, the UK scheduled to function under EU rules and regulations.
“However, during the transition period, the UK will be able to negotiate, sign and ratify new agreements with other countries, but they will not come into force until the end of the transition period of December 31, 2020,” the minister noted.
According to a joint statement by India and the UK last year, it was decided that both parties will ensure the continued application of EU-India agreements of the UK during the transition period and put in place arrangements to replicate relevant EU-India agreements beyond this period, she added.
Speaking on the impact of Brexit on Indian origins, who moved to Britain on Portuguese passports, the Indian minister said, the withdrawal agreement agreed between the UK and the EU is yet to be voted upon the British Parliament ensures the safety of all EU people residing in the UK according to the law.
India closely watching the developments related Brexit and will continue to do the same in the future, the minister said.
