Donald Tusk refuses to intervene on expats until Article 50 is triggered
Donald Tusk has dismissed calls from MPs to negotiate on the rights of British expats, saying nothing can be done until Article 50 is triggered to start the Brexit process.
The European Council president was responding to a letter which raised concerns about what would happen to Britons living overseas after Brexit.
A group of 50 mainly Conservative MPs accused the European Commission's lead negotiator Michel Barnier of being "worryingly indifferent" to the concerns of expats which was causing "anxiety and uncertainty".
In their letter, organised by Conservative backbencher Michael Tomlinson, the MPs said a quick solution was the "only just and humane thing to do".
But Mr Tusk said that negotiations could not begin until the UK triggered Article 50.
Mr Tusk wrote: "The EU stands ready to do so (begin negotiations), but that can only happen on the condition that Article 50 has been triggered."
He added: "Would you not agree that the only source of anxiety and uncertainty is rather the decision on Brexit? And that the only way to dispel the fears and doubts of all the citizens concerned is the quickest possible start of the negotiations based on Article 50 of the Treaty?"