Scotland to pay post-Brexit fee for some EU citizens

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - Scotland will pay a proposed “settled status” fee following Brexit for EU citizens working in the public sector, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Sunday.

Speaking in BBC’s Marr Show, Sturgeon said EU migrants had made a big contribution and their right to remain in Scotland should be guaranteed.

"It appears that the U.K. government is going to make EU citizens apply for what they're calling settled status and possibly charge a fee for that,” she said.

"They haven't said what that fee would be, but if it's the same as it is for residents, it will be around £65 [around $85],” she added.

The Scottish leader said they will pay that for workers in the public sector “because it helps individuals, it helps us keep vital workers in the NHS and public services, and it sends a message to EU nationals that we want them to stay here because we welcome them."

Sturgeon’s announcement came ahead of her Scottish National Party (SNP) annual conference that started on Sunday.

The SNP leader is expected to speak during the conference about the second referendum on independence from the U.K.

The three-day conference will include party’s former leader Alex Salmond and deputy leader Angus Robertson.

Scotland, as part of the U.K., is expected to leave the EU in March 2019, despite the fact that a majority of voters there said they wanted to remain in the bloc in last year’s referendum.

A new round of Brexit negotiations, which will resume on Oct. 9 in Brussels, is expected to deal with key issues, including citizens’ rights after Brexit.