Sobotka says same rights must apply for all citizens across EU

The same rights and duties must apply to all citizens of the European Union must apply everywhere within the EU, including the UK, until Great Britain officially leaves, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka made clear on commercial broadcaster TV Prima on Sunday. The prime minister was reacting to the news that Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May will trigger Article 50 by the end of March 2017, beginning a two-year process to negotiate departure from the former 28-member bloc. The British prime minister has made clear, following Brexit, that the government wanted to decide who it would allow into the UK from within the EU, something Mr Sobotka sees as infringing on the fundamental rights of EU citizens. He indicated the Czech Republic would oppose any unilateral steps blocking the freedom of movement.

Author: Jan Velinger