Cameron to ask Brussels for cap on EU migrants

Series Title
Series Details 06.01.14
Publication Date 06/01/2014
Content Type

United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron said on 5 January 2014 that he would consider pushing for a cap on workers from Europe and make cutting immigration a top priority as he sought to renegotiate Britain's relationship with the European Union.

However, he was expected to find considerable resistance from other EU Member States.

United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage called on the 7 January 2014 for immigrants to be barred from receiving any benefits until they have been resident in the UK for five years.

London Mayor Boris Johnson (a Conservative Party member) also weighed into the debate, suggesting a ban on EU citizens claiming benefits should be two years.

A British Social Attitudes Survey suggested more than three-quarters of Britons want to see a cut in immigration - and 56% want to see a major crackdown.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on 7 January 2014 vowed to block any British changes to EU laws that would prevent migrant workers from having access to welfare benefits. The leaders from both countries had a 40-minute phone call to smooth relations amid this dispute.

Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat leader and deputy PM, said the UK coalition government was united over plans to tighten benefits for EU citizens in Britain while criticising the system as 'perverse'.

Labour MP and Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna suggested on the 9 January 2014 that the Labour Party might be interested in restricting free movement within the European Union for workers who do not have the firm offer of a job.

Viviane Reding, one of the Vice Presidents of the European Commission, said on the 9 January 2014 that UK government ministers appeared to be stoking up fears about European Union migrants to distract voters from the real problems Britain faced.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.euractiv.com/uk-europe/cameron-ask-brussels-cap-eu-migr-news-532595
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Bitter debate marks lifting of Bulgaria and Romania labour restrictions http://www.europeansources.info/record/bitter-debate-marks-lifting-of-bulgaria-and-romania-labour-restrictions/
ESO: Background information: Curbs on EU benefits to come into force on 1 January http://www.europeansources.info/record/curbs-on-eu-benefits-to-come-into-force-on-1-january/
Deutsche Welle, 07.01.14: EU skeptical about Cameron's quota for migrants http://dw.de/p/1Am87
BBC News, 06.01.14: Polish minister attacks David Cameron's child benefit plan http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25628791
ESO: Background Information: Hand-waving as renegotiation: The UK’s (and EU’s) limited options http://www.europeansources.info/record/hand-waving-as-renegotiation-the-uks-and-eus-limited-options/
Blog: Open Europe, 06.01.14: A childish row which benefits no one http://openeuropeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/a-childish-row-which-benefits-no-one.html
BBC News, 07.01.14: Nigel Farage calls for five-year ban on migrant benefits http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25630036
BBC News, 07.01.14: Should UK accept lower growth to cut immigration? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25636409
EUObserver, 08.01.14: Poland vows to veto British changes to EU migration rules http://euobserver.com/political/122649
The Guardian, 07.01.14: Ukip wants a five-year ban on new migrants, says Nigel Farage http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jan/07/ukip-immigration-policy-nigel-farage-migrants-ban
NatCen Social Research: Press Release, 07.01.14: More than 3 in 4 want reduction in immigration http://www.natcen.ac.uk/news-media/press-releases/2014/january/more-than-3-in-4-want-reduction-in-immigration/
Blog: EU Referendum, 08.01.14: Immigration: the "great" debate http://www.eureferendum.com/blogview.aspx?blogno=84609
Euro|Topics: Tag: Who's saying what: Freedom of movement divides Europe http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/debatten/links-2013-12-freizuegigkeit/
BBC News, 08.01.14: Cameron seeks to allay Polish benefit concerns http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25656429
The Guardian, 09.01.14: Nick Clegg backs ending of child benefit payments for children who live abroad http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jan/09/nick-clegg-ending-child-benefit-payment-parents-abroad-eu
The Guardian, 08.01.14: Polish politician calls for Tesco boycott over migrant benefits row http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/08/polish-politician-tesco-boycott-migrant-benefits-row-cameron
Euronews, 06.01.14: EU Commission questions UK over possible migrant restrictions http://www.euronews.com/2014/01/06/eu-commission-questions-uk-over-possible-migrant-restrictions/
Polskie Radio, 08.01.14: Poland to block Cameron's EU immigration plan http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/158025,Poland-to-block-Camerons-EU-immigration-plan
Polskie Radio, 09.01.14: 'Boycott Tesco' call by Polish MP as UK immigration row intensifies http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/158131,Boycott-Tesco-call-by-Polish-MP-as-UK-immigration-row-intensifies
BBC News, 10.01.14: Labour hints at shift on EU free movement policy http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25678829
The Guardian, 10.01.13: Top EU official slams British ministers on immigration http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jan/10/top-eu-official-slams-british-ministers-on-immigration
ECFR: Commentary, 06.01.14: Britain's Bulgaria-Romania phobia http://ecfr.eu/content/entry/commentary_britains_bulgaria_romania_phobia235
The Economist, 21.12.13: British immigration. You’re welcome http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21591865-open-letter-citizens-bulgaria-and-romania-youre-welcome
European Movement: UK: Free Movement of People: Bulgaria and Romania (March 2013) http://www.euromove.org.uk/index.php?id=20539
Blog: Open Europe, 08.01.14: False row alert: Changes to EU benefits rules don’t necessarily need treaty change http://openeuropeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/false-row-alert-changes-to-eu-benefits.html
Euro|Topics, 08.01.14: Migration debate: Tusk criticises Cameron http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/aeltere/NEWSLETTER-2014-01-08-Migration-debate-Tusk-criticises-Cameron
The Guardian, 10.01.14: Stop EU citizens travelling to UK in search of work, says Labour http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jan/10/stop-eu-citizens-travelling-uk-work-labour
Blog: Ideas on Europe: EU ROPE, 09.01.14: Buses, planes, Bulgarians, Romanians and The Daily Mail http://eu-rope.ideasoneurope.eu/2014/01/09/buses-planes-bulgarians-romanians-and-the-daily-mail-an-update/
Blog: Euromove, 13.01.14: Can we make sense of the UK immigration debate? http://euromove.blogactiv.eu/2014/01/13/can-we-make-sense-of-the-uk-immigration-debate/

Subject Categories ,
Countries / Regions ,