EU will pay for foreigners to stay in UK after Brexit – but insist we MUST agree to open borders until 2021 or deal is off

THE EU will pay for citizens from outside of the UK to stay in Britain after Brexit, but they have demanded again that we keep our borders open until 2021 or the deal is OFF.

In a new plan proposed by the European Parliament negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, EU bosses will agree to cough up up to £230million for the Home Office bills to secure their rights to stay here.

And it's said to be backed by EU boss Jean Claude Juncker,

Sources said it was an attempt by the EU to give it the higher ground in ongoing Brexit talks - and it could offer to fund the plan from the EU's budget.

"Juncker was open to the idea, which puts the EU on the side of citizens in Brexit and makes the British look petty for charging," they said.

Theresa May has previously confirmed that the 3.6million EU citizens who live in the UK currently will be able to gain ";settled status" and live here forever - but the EU wants the process to be free.

And every EU national living in Britain will be able to bring in their family too - just as long as they come in before the cut off date which has yet to be decided.

Experts predicted a migration surge as tens of thousands look to take advantage of the PM’s offer.

The Home Office has said it will charge a fee of £72 for the process of seeking "settled status".

They will have to prove they've been here for at least five years and pass a criminal records test.

But today EU bosses totally shut down British hopes of bringing in a new immigration system on Brexit day.

EU politicians said there will be “no discussion” about cutting off automatic residency rights for their citizens in 2019.

They insisted Britain will have to accept “the whole” European rulebook “and nothing else” during the two year transition.

The hardline demands came despite British ministers insisting that free movement will end completely next year.

Mrs May is seeking a two-year implementation period on membership terms which will see EU citizens allowed to carry on moving to Britain.

However, the Government wants its offer of permanent residence to those Europeans already in Britain to apply only up to Brexit day.

The EU says that demand is unacceptable and is insisting the right is extended to anybody present in the UK up to the end of the transition.

If the EU gets its way, it could mean that Britain could be forced to accept open borders for another THREE years - and those who come during that time could then stay forever.

Speaking in the EU Parliament today, Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt said the transition will mean “the continuation of membership without the possibility to decide” on the rules.

He added: “That means that for example the new system that will come into place for the EU citizens living in Britain will only apply after the withdrawal agreement and after the transition period.”

He threatened: “There is no discussion, it will be the whole acquis and nothing else."

EU transition guidelines, published earlier this month, provoked outrage from Eurosceptics who accused Brussels of moving the goalposts on immigration.

The deal agreed between Mrs May and Mr Juncker in December set March 2019 as the cut-off date for residency.

But European diplomats have pointed out that the text makes clear the date could be subject to change.