European Union leaders will insist the UK grants permanent residence to EU citizens who settled before Brexit to obtain a permit to stay five more years, according to a draft negotiating plan they to be endorsed in Brussels this weekend.

In the latest sign of the EU27 to mount pressure on Prime Minister Theresa May to guarantee full rights after Britain’s departure for the 3 million EU nationals living there, new draft guidelines include wording that diplomats said aims to head off any British move to cut immigrant numbers by forcing people out.