Cameron cornered on EU migrants issue
LONDON (AFP) — With no deal on the contentious issue of welfare handouts for migrants from European Union countries, but a possible compromise being mooted, British Prime Minister David Cameron is rolling over his EU renegotiation bid into 2016.
But time is running out — particularly if Cameron wants to hold Britain’s longawaited in-out referendum on membership of the EU next year, as he hinted after a Brussels summit on Friday.
It looks like Cameron will have to give ground on his demands on curbing welfare payments for citizens from other EU countries arriving in Britain, in the face of opposition from a string of other European leaders who see his proposals as discriminatory.
French President Francois Hollande warned Cameron the plan was “unacceptable.”
While German Chancellor Angela Merkel is seen as generally supportive of Britain’s position, she stressed that “the fundamental achievements of European integration,” such as freedom of movement and non-discrimination, were not up for debate.
This left Cameron talking of a “tough” road to a deal at the next summit in February after Thursday’s crunch dinner dominated by the issue.
EU President Donald Tusk said other leaders had “voiced their concerns” but were willing to “compromise.”
“Cameron faces deadlock over EU benefit plan” was The Guardian newspaper’s headline Friday, while The Sun ran with “Cam pole-axed.”
That was a pun on the opposition to his plans from Poland, one of the eastern European nations whose citizens have moved to Britain in their hundreds of thousands.
“Cameron has made a rod for his own back with his promise” on benefits, said Professor Simon Hix of the London School of Economics.
“He may now have to concede on that issue in return for a compromise deal.”
While Cameron is pushing for reforms of Britain’s relationship with the EU in four areas, it is the issue of benefit payments to European migrants which is the most problematic.
He wants to force those migrants from EU countries who have jobs in Britain to wait four years before they can claim state benefits in a bid to make the country — which saw record net migration last year — a less attractive destination.
With other European leaders pushing back against that, sources and commentators suggest several alternative ways for Cameron to address the issue.