Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, foreign minister Alfonso Dastis said the pledge applies even if no Brexit deal is struck between the UK and the European Union.
“If there is no deal we will make sure that the lives of ordinary people who are in Spain, the UK people, is not disrupted,” Dastis said.
“As you know, the relationship between the UK and Spain is a very close one in terms of economic relations and also social exchanges,” he said.
Keeping the status quo
Dastis said more than 17 million British citizens come to Spain every year and many end up retiring there.
“We want to keep it that way as much as possible,” he said.
The minister’s optimistic comments contrast with a statement he made in April when he accused UK Government officials of “losing their cool” in a dispute with the EU over the future of Gibraltar.
According to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 308,805 Brits live in Spain, and more than a third (101,045) are aged 65 and over.
A new attitude
Speaking about the current Brexit negotiations in Brussels, Dastis said he was hopeful an agreement could be reached that was both good for the UK and the EU.
“We have seen a new atmosphere and a new attitude from the UK government since prime minister May’s speech in Florence. We are now waiting to see that new attitude transposed into position papers and the negotiation table,” he said.
Citizens’ rights are one of the main topics being discussed at the Brussels summit. Negotiations have reportedly been moving slowly and there is increased talk no deal will be reached between the two sides.
