Curbs on EU benefits to come into force on 1 January

New rules on how long EU jobseekers will have to wait to claim benefits are to be brought in January 2014, the United Kingdom government announced on the 18 December 2013.

The change to a three-month wait before EU citizens can apply for UK out-of-work benefits would be rushed through Parliament to start on 1 January 2014.

This would coincides with the date people from both Romania and Bulgaria would be able to work in the UK without restrictions.

Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister and leader of the Liberal Democrat party, accused David Cameron's Conservatives of floating reform ideas that risked sparking tit-for-tat retaliation from other EU member states who could make life difficult for the around 2 million Britons living abroad.

The European Commission said that some of the plans outlined by the UK government and leaked by the press would be illegal under EU regulations.

• Primary Source

United Kingdom: UK.GOV: Press Release, 18.12.13: Accelerating action to stop rogue EU benefit claims https://www.gov.uk/government/news/accelerating-action-to-stop-rogue-eu-benefit-claims

EUObserver, 16.12.13: Mooted UK migrant cap would be 'illegal' http://euobserver.com/justice/122491

EurActiv, 17.12.13: Clegg attacks ‘illegal’ UK plan to rein in EU workers http://www.euractiv.com/uk-europe/clegg-attacks-illegal-uk-plan-re-news-532389

ESO: Background information: Brussels on guard over UK's Romania, Bulgaria plan http://www.europeansources.info/record/brussels-on-guard-over-uks-romania-bulgaria-plan-david-cameron-exactly-right-on-migration-says-michael-gove/

ESO: Background information: Immigration and asylum policy: Government plans and progress made http://www.europeansources.info/record/immigration-and-asylum-policy-government-plans-and-progress-made/

ESO: Background information: Impact of mobile EU citizens on national social security systems http://www.europeansources.info/record/impact-of-mobile-eu-citizens-on-national-social-security-systems/

BBC News, 16.12.13: European Union migrant cap plan illegal, says Nick Clegg http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25398612

BBC News, 16.12.13: On immigration patrol with British police in Romania http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25368670

United Kingdom: GOV.UK: Benefits https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits

The Independent, 18.12.13: Britain profits from EU migration (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE135540-Britain-profits-from-EU-migration

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