UK, Polish premiers plan mutual protections post-Brexit

LONDON (AA) – The British and Polish premiers confirmed Monday that even after Britain leaves the European Union, British and Polish citizens’ rights in each other’s country will be guaranteed.

Reiterating that she will trigger Article 50 – for Britain to formally leave the EU – by the end of March 2017, Britain’s Theresa May said an early agreement can be reached on citizens’ issues.

“I have reiterated my plan to guarantee the rights of Poles and other Europeans currently living in the U.K. so long as the rights of British citizens living across the EU are guaranteed,” she told a joint press conference at Downing Street with her Polish counterpart Beata Szydlo

“I hope we can reach an early agreement on this issue, providing certainty for Polish citizens here and British citizens living in Europe,” she added.

Some one million Poles live in Britain, making it the largest-foreign born group in the country, according to the Office for National Statistics

May also stressed the significance of British-Polish relations, saying: “The relationship between Poland and the United Kingdom is important for prosperity and for the security of our countries. And as the U.K. leaves the EU, I am determined to strengthen this partnership.”

May said the two prime ministers exchanged views on how they can deepen bilateral cooperation and addressed shared security threats as well as U.K. preparations for exiting the EU.

“The U.K. and Poland have been close allies in the EU and we plan to be even closer once the U.K. has left.”

The summit also decided to start a U.K.-Poland forum starting next year in the Polish capital Warsaw.

- Committed to NATO

May underlined that the U.K. and Poland, two leading players in NATO, will be committed to the alliance’s role to provide security not only in Europe but also around the world.

“Today we have discussed how we can deter the Russian aggression by reinforcing Europe’s eastern flank,” May said, before revealing that plans were outlined to deploy 150 British troops in Poland in spring 2017.

May said the situation in Ukraine was also discussed, with the two countries in agreement to maintain sanctions against Russia until the Minsk agreement is fully implemented.

She also announced the first U.K.-Poland bilateral defense treaty and the strengthening of ties between the two countries’ defense industries.

For his part, Szydlo also underlined the special relationship between the countries, saying that Poland will take an active part in Brexit negotiations.

Echoing May, Szydlo said they took up security issues during the summit such as NATO and common threats.

On the situation in Syria, the Polish premier said the “indiscriminate bombing of civilians of Russia is unacceptable.”

About Ukraine, Szydlo said that Poland supports continued sanctions against Russia.