We might throw out your deal, MEPs warn
THE European Parliament has emerged as the biggest threat to David Cameron’s renegotiation deal with the EU – with MEPs threatening to block any plans that could lead to an ‘à la carte’ Europe.
Martin Schulz, the Parliament’s president, warned many MEPs now wanted Britain out of the EU and said that Britain was ‘testing the patience’ of his colleagues with its ‘continuous demands’.
‘Many of my colleagues say behind closed doors: “Don’t stop a rolling stone. If the Brits want to leave, let them leave.”,’ he said.
His words came as it emerged that Britain will have to wait for a year after the referendum to get an emergency brake
‘If Brits want to leave, let them leave’
that cuts benefits for EU workers. It will take 12 months to pass the necessary legislation to curb in-work benefits – the centrepiece of the Prime Minister’s renegotiation deal.
It risks creating a ‘free-for-all’ period in which vast numbers of migrants from Eastern Europe could pour into the UK before the new regime comes into effect. As the rancour intensified yesterday: Mr Cameron slapped down Mr Schulz’s suggestion that the deal could be blocked – or even reversed – by the European Parliament;
It was revealed barely one in 10 EU migrants who arrived in the past four years would have been affected by the emergency brake;
The Prime Minister faced scepticism in Europe as he began a tour to drum up support in Poland and Denmark.
MEPs yesterday threatened to derail Mr Cameron’s renegotiation as they insisted they would not sign off on the proposed reforms until after the referendum.
Mr Schulz said the British had tested the EU’s ‘patience and good will with their continuous demands’. ‘Many of my colleagues say behind closed doors: “Don’t stop a rolling stone. If the Brits want to leave, let them leave”,’ he added.
The uncertainty caused by the European Parliament’s refusal to agree on the deal until after the referendum is problematic for Mr Cameron, as he will not be able to guarantee his reforms will come into reality when voters go to the polls. At a meeting in Brussels, where officials from Britain and all other 27 member states discussed the draft deal that was unveiled on Tuesday, a representative of the European Parliament warned the agreement ‘should not lead to an “à la carte” approach to the EU’.
In a speech at the London School of Economics, Mr Schulz added that ‘proposals which cater to narrow self-interests, risk undermining the common good, or would set dangerous precedents for a Europe à la carte will meet with resistance from the European Parliament’.
He said: ‘The European Parliament needs to see its concerns addressed early on to avoid a serious roadblock later on when legislation will need to be debated and adopted in the European Parliament.’
But Mr Cameron slapped down Mr Schulz’s suggestion that it would be reversed. Speaking at a press conference in Copenhagen, he said: ‘It would only be reversible if all 28 countries including Britain agree to reverse it,’ he said.
Mr Cameron’s emergency brake will stop EU workers getting full tax credits for their first four years in the country when services or welfare system are under pressure. Earlier this week, he unveiled a deal that would enable the brake to be applied immediately if Britain votes to remain in the EU.
But the curbs will only apply to new arrivals – creating an incentive for people to come before they kick in. Anybody here before the law is officially changed will be completely unaffected by the brake –which is much weaker than Mr Cameron originally promised. A significant delay to the emergency brake being applied would therefore be likely to lead to a spike in arrivals.
For the year ending March 2015, 162,000 people moved to Britain f rom the EU f or work- related reasons, though not all will be eligible for tax credits.
During the 12 months following the referendum, which is expected to be held in June, people with families would be able to travel here alone and bring their families at a later date, without losing out.
Countries in Eastern Europe have been reassured introduction of the brake will not be ‘rushed’ and there will be ti me to ‘ modify’ the proposals in Brussels.
‘Demands testing EU’s patience’