Economically inactive EU citizens who go to another Member State solely in order to obtain social assistance may be excluded from certain social benefits

In a preliminary ruling announced on the 11 November 2014 relating to a case referred to it by the Social Court in Leipzig, Germany, the European Court of Justice stated that EU citizens who move to another member state 'solely in order to obtain social assistance' may be excluded from benefits schemes of the Member State.

The case referred to a Romanian woman who had lived in the German city of Leipzig since at least November 2010.

Steve Peers in his EU Law Analysis blog (see related url hyperlink) wrote 'the Court judgment sends a clear message that Member States can act against at least the most blatant types of benefit tourism'.

EUObserver, 11.11.14: EU court: Countries can deny benefits to 'welfare tourists' http://euobserver.com/justice/126466

BBC News, 11.11.14: EU court ruling backs curbs on 'benefit tourism' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30002138

ESO: Background information: A European labour market with national welfare systems: a proposal for a new Citizenship and Integration Directive http://www.europeansources.info/record/a-european-labour-market-with-national-welfare-systems-a-proposal-for-a-new-citizenship-and-integration-directive/

ESO: Background information: Britain 'under siege' from migrant EU workers, says defence chief http://www.europeansources.info/record/britain-under-siege-from-migrant-eu-workers-says-defence-chief/

ESO: Background information: Germany proposes measures against benefit abuse by EU citizens http://www.europeansources.info/record/germany-proposes-measures-against-benefit-abuse-by-eu-citizens/

The Guardian, 11.11.14: Germany can deny benefits to jobless EU migrants, court rules http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/11/germany-deny-benefits-welfare-jobless-eu-migrants

Blog: Open Europe, 11.11.14: What are the implications of today's ECJ ruling on EU migrants' access to benefits? http://openeuropeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/what-are-implications-of-todays-ecj.html

Deutsche Welle, 11.11.14: European court: Germany can deny benefits to jobless EU immigrants http://dw.de/p/1DlBo

The Local.de, 11.11.14: Court: EU migrants can be denied local benefits http://www.thelocal.de/20141111/court-countries-can-refuse-eu-migrants-benefits

Blog: EU Law Analysis, 11.11.14: Benefit Tourism by EU citizens: the CJEU just says No http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/benefit-tourism-by-eu-citizens-cjeu.html

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 12.11.14: ECJ: Welfare benefits can be denied http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER153536-ECJ-Welfare-benefits-can-be-denied

EurActiv, 12.11.14: EU judges rule against 'welfare tourists' in nod to Cameron http://www.euractiv.com/sections/social-europe-jobs/eu-judges-rule-against-welfare-tourists-nod-cameron-309929

ESO: Background information: Free movement of people: five actions to benefit citizens, growth and employment in the EU http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-free-movement-of-people-five-actions-to-benefit-citizens-growth-and-employment-in-the-eu/

ESO: Background information: Advocate General’s Opinion in Case C-333/13 (Social security benefits for national or foreign jobseekers) http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-advocate-generals-opinion-in-case-c-333-13-social-security-benefits-for-national-or-foreign-jobseekers/

Balkan Insight, 13.11.14: Romanians Back ECJ Ruling on 'Benefit Tourism' http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/romanians-welcome-ecj-decision-on-benefit-tourism

Blog: Open Europe, 13.11.14: IDS sets out broad strokes of reforms to EU free movement http://openeuropeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/ids-sets-out-broad-strokes-of-reforms.html

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 13.11.14: The CJEU has backed curbs on ‘benefit tourism’ but unanswered questions remain over the free movement rights of EU citizens http://bit.ly/1xAUVzj

Blog: EU Law Analysis, 26.03.15: Benefits for unemployed EU citizens: the CJEU may complicate David Cameron’s renegotiation strategy http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/benefits-for-unemployed-eu-citizens.html

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