Brussels, 05/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - A new study published on Wednesday 5 November contradicts David Cameron's rhetoric on the abuse of social benefits by migrants from the EU.
The study, by University College London, has found that migrants from the EU had contributed £20 billion (€26 billion) to the UK Treasury between 2001 and 2011, paying more in taxes than what was taken out in benefits. Migrants from the ten countries which joined the EU in 2004 contributed £5 billion.
“Our new analysis draws a positive picture of the overall fiscal contribution made by recent immigrant cohorts,” said Prof. Christian Dustmann, co-author of the study. Immigrants from the older EU countries, which include France and Germany, paid 64% more in taxes than they took out in benefits; those from Central and Eastern European countries contributed 12% more than they cost, the study states. It notes that these workers were better educated than the British, meaning that they bring human capital equivalent to spending of £6.8 billion on education. Publication of the study comes at a time of heated debate on immigration into the UK, less than a year before the general election, when relations between the EU and London have been strained as a result of the latest budget quarrel. On this last point, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is awaiting a sign from David Cameron to begin a political discussion on the matter and to work to find an acceptable solution, according to a European source. (SP)