PM sets out key areas for discussion with other EU members, saying UK needs changes to way migrants can claim benefits
Rowena Mason, political correspondent
Sunday 5 January 2014
David Cameron will consider pushing for a cap on workers from Europe and make cutting immigration a top priority as he seeks to renegotiate Britain's relationship with Brussels.
The prime minister said the UK needs changes to the way migrants can claim benefits and the number coming over to work, as he set out key areas for discussion with other EU members. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, he said all options are on the table in terms of pushing for a cap on the number of immigrants from new entrants to the EU.
His comments come after a row last month when the Liberal Democrats condemned as illegal Home Office proposals to bring in a limit of around 75,000 EU migrants per year.
Cameron insisted he has already made progress on renegotiation, which he wants before putting the issue of Britain's EU membership to a referendum vote by the end of 2017. However, he said much more needs to be done on the issue of immigration and suggested he was willing to raise the issue of a cap in Brussels.
"We need change on claiming benefits, we need changes on free movement. I've said we want to get Britain out of the idea that there's an ever-closer union in the European Union – we don't want an ever-closer union, we want to have trade and co-operation, not an ever-closer union."
After talking about ways to limit immigration from other member states, Cameron was asked about his red lines in negotiations. He replied: "I've already said to you this morning some of the things that we need to sort out. I could add to those we need more flexibility, we need more competitiveness, we need less cost added, particularly to our small businesses. We need to fix all of those things. They will all be part of this renegotiation, and I've given myself – I think rightly – the referendum must be held by the end of 2017. It will be," he said.
Among the changes he wanted to see, Cameron said he would work to stop child benefit being claimed by migrants for their children abroad. "I don't think that is right and that is something I want to change," he said.
"It's a situation that I inherited … I think it will take time because we either have to change it by getting agreement from other European countries – and there are other European countries who, like me, think it's wrong that someone from Poland who comes here, who works hard, and I am absolutely all in favour of that, but I don't think we should be paying child benefit to their family back at home in Poland.
"Now, to change that, you've either got to change it with other European countries at the moment, or potentially change it through the treaty change that I'll be putting in place before the referendum we will hold on Britain's membership of the EU by the end of 2017."
The prime minister said it was also absolutely achievable to stop new members without tighter restrictions on migration in place joining the EU, suggesting he could veto accessions if not. "That is absolutely achievable because every time a new country joins the European Union, there has to be unanimity around the council table in Europe about what the arrangements are. So Britain will be able to insist for future countries joining, we'll be able to insist on a tougher, more robust regime."
Asked whether he would ever campaign for Britain to leave the EU if he does not get what he wants, Cameron insisted his goals were feasible. "I believe I will get what I want. I am launching this process because a) I think it is right for Britain – I don't think the relationship works at the moment, I want it to work better; and b) I think it is achievable because the rest of Europe, because you've got 18 countries now in a single currency, they need change – they need more common taxes, they need more common banking unions – they need change and as they need change we should be able to get change too. So this is doable, it is achievable and it is good for Britain."
Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, responded on Twitter with a cutting putdown, saying: "David Cameron seems to be trying to sound like me. But the thing is, I believe in what I say." Speaking later, on the Sky News Murnaghan programme, Farage said the coalition was still not doing enough. He suggested that only people earning the national average wage should be allowed into Britain and they should have to wait five years before claiming jobless benefits.
He said: "We should be selective. The single most important criteria should be that we want people coming to this country who have got a skill to bring, who economically are going to earn more than £27,500."
I think that it is a good idea because all of us need development, we need to brake the barriers that exist with different cultures or different religions. If we work together, all the world can be a melting pot. So, migrate can be good to develop all the world and turn the world as more as possible an equal place for all of us. I agree with this idea because agregate countries contributes to the uniformity of rights and sharing of ideas on various issues, such as economics or politics. Diogo Albuquerque nº10 11ºB
ResponderEliminarto break... within the different... and make the world be an equal place ffor all as much as possible...
Eliminarto aggregate ???
for all
EliminarUnlike David Cameron I believe that all Europe could benefit from an ever-closer Union between countries. In fact I have the opinion that we should break all barriers between countries in the EU, forming only one country. Having a regime like the USA's federation: with different states each one with its own legal system but based on a common constitution and federal rules.
ResponderEliminarThis would make from Europe a much stronger voice in the world.
Who are you, Miguel?
EliminarMiguel Miranda,nº24,11B
EliminarNowadays and specially in the EU migration is easier than ever and in order of that and to have a more balanced world this measures are crucial. Migration is a positive thing as we need to change ideas and experiences with others and learn with different cultures to build a better world. However we need to be attentive because everyone wants better living conditions and it is not sustainable if everyone come to a country searching for that conditions. Other times poor communities come to a country only to enjoy its benefits and do not contribute to its development. In this cases it is very important to control and reduce migration. To conclude, I agree with the ideas of PM as it’s economically impossible to enable some benefits to all the immigrants as they are becoming more and more. Liliya Umanets n° 17 11°B
ResponderEliminarvery interesting text, really well written!!
ResponderEliminarby:Marcelo 11ºG Nº16
This is not a comment!
EliminarI tend to agree with PM David Cameron on imposing new rules on immigration. In fact, UK is one of the most commonly chosen places to start a new life because actual polices are very favourable to immigrants. Some immigrants use those polices abusively and so government spend a lot of money with them. Cameron’s idea is to decrease and control spending with immigrants. He is not against immigration but he thinks that it is one of the causes of crisis and by applying his new polices, he pretend to solve a problem that UK is facing. Rita Boto Pereira, nº 25, 11º ano B
ResponderEliminarI agree with PM David Cameron. With the creation of the EU, the migration between the countries members became very easy, making easier the life of the people who choose to make this option, but the migration can affect the development of a country if it is on a large scale or if the people who migration don’t contribute for the country. I think this new rules will help the country because the government will put more money on the industry, the economy will increase with the national products and the culture will grow up, preserving the costumes.
ResponderEliminarEduardo Gameiro 11ºB nº12
I can see David Cameron's objective with this measures but I think he is being too ambitious with these. This also makes a bit afraid, because United Kingdom is one of the most important countries for EU as they are one of the countries who give more than what they receive from funds and we, citizens of EU, need them. If they David Cameron doesn't get what he wants I don't know if he will still want his country to be a part os this Union.
ResponderEliminarGonçalo Martins, nº8, 11ºG
Hello teacher i think its a very interesting text , and i agree with divid cameron and is opinion . By : Rodrigo Almeida 11G Nº24
ResponderEliminarThis is not a comment!
EliminarI really enjoyed the text, and i also agree with David Cameron's opinion. Duarte Reis 11ºG nº4
ResponderEliminarThis is not a comment!
EliminarI must agree with UK's prime minister David Cameron, many immigrants come to new countries to find a better lifestyle, but at the same time, they can become a really big burden to the government of their new country, an economical burden that those countries may not afford to have. I don't believe Cameron is anti-immigration, but I think he is somewhat protective towards the U.K. economy, when regarding immigration.
ResponderEliminarJoão Lopes, 11º G, Nº13
This is a very interesting , that i enjoyed to read but i dont share my opinion with David Cameron .
ResponderEliminarby : Manel Trindade
Explain!
EliminarIn my opinion it is very important for the British economy to recruit foreign talent because British people can gain experience abroad with the freedom of movement. I believe that EU needs a policy where if the migrants doesn't contribued to the country, they should only be paid benefits by their own country. By Ana Suvac n.2 11oB
ResponderEliminarIn my opinion PM David Cameron is right on his ideas about migration. A country that is development as UK is, has to control the people who comes to work and limit the number of persons that want to do it. João Figueira, Nº15, 11ºB
ResponderEliminarI personally disagree with David Cameron on his rules on immigration. I think that we should not put barriers on immigration I think countries should welcome nicely immigrants because some of them are really hardworking and want to start a new life on a different country and thy we‘ll do everything to ensure good life wich help countries grow and become multicultural societies like America wich is a pure salad bowl
ResponderEliminarMade again by:Marcelo Teles 10°G
In a way, most of what is told by PM David Cameron is acceptable, for example, getting Britain to be more flexible and cooperating with the rest of EU. But we have to consider that many future problems can come from immigrants "invading" a country, for instances, many native workers can loose their jobs to those immigrants ( from lack of educational level or because immigrant labour force is cheaper for companies). Also the implementation of international companies that extract the money to their homelands can jeopardize the UK national income. Besides that, in terms of social stability and dynamics, the points that the PM promises to keep on further EU mettings contributes positively to diminuishe discrimination and to unite many cultures into a well developed country (and with high life quality) like Britain. Ana Vilaça nº 3 11ºB
ResponderEliminarI think the PM David Cameron is right when is says that european countries shoulds have new rules about the benefits that foreign people have in other countries. I mean i think it's good that someone that lives abroad and work hard be well paid but as David Cameron says there are some benefits that those people claim that aren't fair for the countrie.
ResponderEliminarAltough i don't think that the solution is to introduce a cap in migration bit to create new polices about work benefits for foreign workers because controling the number of people that goes in and out of England would be a throwback in terms of a multicultural world which is already a reality.
To conclude I also think that teh PM should never consider to get England out of the EU because that would be another HUGE throwback not only to a multicultural Europe but also for Europe's economy.
João Rafael; nº16; 11º B
In my opinion the immigrants should have the same benefits that an individual of that county. If that immigrant works hard and pay taxes, he is contributing for the development of the country, but is not right if his children are in other country and they receive money from the state, because there is, probably, people that have their family with them and need help. So I have to agree with David Cameron. By: Mariana Oliveira, 11ºB, nº21
ResponderEliminarIn the beginning, on the first paragraph, when it is written "cutting immigrantion" it really means stopping immigration? If yes i think that is a very bad idea, because immigrants are the basis of our society, they have the jobs that we despise but who are useful, like factory workers, plumbers, electricians those kind of job that we think to be above but are necessary to our society. The point is if the immigration stops our society could collapse in previous future, i think. But i must say that i agree with the rest of the article, especially with the idea of more competition between countries, i believe that competition brings always evolution and development. Tiago Janeiro, nº 28 11ºB
ResponderEliminarI don't agree with David Cameron because Europe exists to be a union of different people and not a simple political organization.Union is rulling in societies development due to the exchange of ideas.
ResponderEliminarIn my opinion,making europe a country has several advantages to people,who can improve their economically situation and then their quotidian and this is good because we are human beings.
"(...)we don't want an ever-closer union,we want to have trade and co-operation,not an ever-closer union", whereat Europe needs power ,the power of union to be a dominant zone.
However,the immigration has to be moderate to have work for all;if Europe has a good migration distribution,european life conditions will improve a lot.
The union is the strength!
Tiago Falcão,nº27,11ºb
It is a known fact that the UK subsidies every Britain citizen with low income, including immigrants, of course.
ResponderEliminarThe problem are not the general immigrant workers, that effectively work for an extensive amount of time in the country, that pay heavy council taxes (as we all know, the taxes are high in the UK). The problem are: people attached by family to immigrants in the UK; people that take advantage of benefits from marriage, from their children registered in UK’s schools or/and from invalidity, etc. These people may not be working, and, consequently, not contributing to the UK’s economy. More, in most cases, they are not responsibility of the UK’s government.
There are positive sides, of course. Most people that immigrate to people that become storekeepers or merchants in the UK are, in most cases, contributing to the existence of medium and small firms, that contribute with lots of taxes and that provoke homogeneity. If, for example, we are talking about capable young students or capable formed people, we have to have in mind that in the UK they will probably do better, earn more. With this, we are making profit of cable citizens. More, the more the formed immigrants in the UK, the more the academic recognition from Europe, U.S., Russia, Japan and more great potencies.
Most people will agree with the prime minister of UK. The problem is making those restrictions fair and sustainable. Only people that work for an “extensive” time (from 3 or 5 years) should earn subsidies that require “a lot” of expense. Essential needs should be provided, of course, before that. But let’s not forget that the UK has already tight counter measures, which are effective.
Filipe Coutinho Nr.13 10th B
I think Cameron's depicts well the UK position towards the EU when he says the UK only wants "trade and co-operation" from the EU and not really an " ever-closing union". This statement really shows what Cameron, his government and probably the British society are caring about right now, and that is only about themselves and about getting as much money as they can. I'm not saying economical and financial crisis are not legitimate issues, but I think it to be unfortunate and unfair that the ones who suffer from such crises are repeatedly the same, migrants serving as an example here.
ResponderEliminarThat said, it is obvious that I somehow understand Cameron's point of view, yet I believe there were fairer ways to approach such problems without harming so badly those in greater needs.
João Martins nº 14 11º B
Excellent, João
EliminarI could not agree more with PM David Cameron, i think immigration is an essential thing to every country, it changes completely all the EU economic and politic relationship ,but, and that is where i agree with PM David Cameron, it needs to be improved especially in the policy restrictions subject. I think we need better control in how many people enter in the country and what services they are gonna pay to it, I also agree with Nigel Farage when he said immigrants "have to wait five years before claiming jobless benefits" that's a very good decision because only after some period of paying services to the country the immigrants have the right to have financial benefits from their host country. Bruno Vieira, nº7 11ºB.
ResponderEliminarI agree with UK's prime minister, David Cameron, because I think nowadays immigration is being detrimental to the various EU countries. Immigration, which is very common, has several good and bad things about it but I think some things need to be changed. Immigration is a positive thing, with it we can learn different cultures and see different points of view, so we can evolve but at the moment it is affect the economies of the countries and one of the reasons is the benefits that immigrants receive. With this I mean that although being in favor of immigration, I think right now is being done in an uncontrolled way and laws must be changed to immigration in countries be more balanced. Filipa Vieira 11ºB
ResponderEliminarI agree with David Cameron, the UK's prime minister. The immigration has various positives and negatives points, the most common is the knowledge of other countries and better jobs but with the loss of uncontrolled citizens does not help the economy of the world, because we are in crisis everywhere. I think immigration is a good thing by taking the negative aspects. Carolina Pedra 11ºB
ResponderEliminaradjectives don't take "s"
EliminarI cannot but agree with the PM!
ResponderEliminarMigration may have lots of positive contribution to the world development but it can also put a country' economy down, like it it happening in the UK. As migrants use their benefits more than they should or when they shouldn't, there needs to be imposed rules and restrictions thinking not only in the people that come to find a better life in a foreign country but also in the country' native citizens.
Dorina Rusu 11ºB Nº11
In my opinion, i agree with David Cameron. Nowadays we know that migration it's very important not only for acculturation of different cultures, religions, etc., but it is also important for development of each country. However, if the number of immigrants start increase wildly can put the economy of that country in risk, and the crisis will be worsen. This is what it's happening In the U.K.
ResponderEliminarSo I think in this moment, it doesn't help if we immigrate to other countries....we should stay in our native country and start do something for improve our economic situation.
Bárbara Batista n˚4 11˚ B
So, I agree with the UK prime minister, David Cameron. Nowadays the migrants travel to find better life conditions (to find job, a house at affordable prices, etc). Even though, the emigrants bring in a lot of good things for some country, they bring damages for that country. This is, the arrival of many migrants can put a country economy down. I only dont agree with Cameron when he said: "we dont want an ever-closer union, we want to have trade and co-operation". I dont agree with this because we are all of the Europian population, soon we should be united. However, I dont believe that Cameron is "anti-migrations", he only wants protect your country.
ResponderEliminarBernardo, 10º D
ResponderEliminar