of the relationship between the UK
and Spain, underlines our shared
commitment to democracy, and most
importantly enables these citizens to
continue to determine who represents
them in the country they reside in.
We continue to explore similar
bilateral treaties to secure these rights
for British citizens across the EU and
we are approaching all EU Member
States on this subject.
To provide certainty while we
pursue these agreements, we do
not anticipate making any changes
to the current primary legislative
framework for candidacy and voting
rights of EU citizens living in the UK
in the immediate future.
It is our intent that all eligible EU
citizens living in the UK will be able
to vote in local elections in England
and Northern Ireland this May. Those
who are nominated and elected at or
before these local elections will also
be permitted to serve their full term
in office.
Brexit Minister Robin Walker
said: “I’m very pleased to have signed
such an important treaty with one
of our closest neighbours which
maintains people’s ability to exercise
their democratic rights, by standing
and voting in local elections.”
This adds a further guarantee
to the rights of UK nationals in
Spain, and Spanish citizens in
the UK, in any scenario.