Brussels, 27/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, UK Prime Minister David Cameron again caused European leaders to lecture him by announcing a tightening of the rules on allocating social aid to immigrants in Europe. In an article in the Financial Times, Cameron said that he no longer wants the principle of free movement to be exercised unconditionally. His attack is particularly on Bulgarian and Romanian migrants who, from January, will be able to work in all European labour markets. Free movement “is not negotiable”, European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Viviane Reding answered him in Brussels on Wednesday lunchtime. In recent weeks, Reding has taken great pains to prove to London that its perceptions on migrants are unfounded. European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Laszlo Andor accused Cameron in a BBC interview of having an “an unfortunate over-reaction” and of distorting reality.
Cameron, who - under growing pressure from eurosceptics - is committed to organising a referendum before the end of 2017 on his country's belonging to the EU should his party be re-elected, stated that he shared the concerns of the UK population - which fears an influx of Romanian and Bulgarian immigrants. He announced a “change of rules” so that the new European arrivals cannot claim unemployment benefit for the first three months of their stay. He also wants to limit payment of this benefit unless they can prove that they have a real chance of finding a job. Cameron's offensive also focuses on housing benefit and on new arrangements to slow down each country's full market access until “we can be sure that this will not cause vast migrations”. (SP/transl.fl)