Britons living in EU can’t keep pre-Brexit rights, European court advised

UK citizens living in Italy pictured before Brexit protesting against the feared loss of some of their rights. Photograph: Maurizio Degl’Innocenti/AP

The European court of justice has been advised that British nationals living on the continent do not keep the advantages of EU citizenship now the UK has left the bloc, in a blow to campaigners fighting to keep more of their rights after Brexit.

Anthony Collins, an Irish advocate general at the court, said in an opinion published on Thursday that British nationals “who enjoyed the benefits of union citizenship do not retain those advantages following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU”.