Blog: Cameron’s ‘emergency brake’: killing the free movement of persons, or saving it?

Steve Peers argues that some might argue that pro-Europeans should not in any way accept the arguments being made by Nigel Farage, given the racist and misogynistic attitudes of some members and supporters of the UK Independence party.

But that’s not a reason to resist any reform of free movement law. Exactly the opposite: it’s the reason to embrace reform. A pro-European case can be made for limited legislative reform, or the imposition of a safeguard clause in exceptional circumstances, which keeps intact the core free movement rules. That way, pro-Europeans can still make the case for the value of these rules, while responding to public concern about those rules.

A refusal to accept any reform increases the risk that there will soon be no free movement (and no EU membership) at all. Free movement of people, and the UK’s membership of the European Union, cannot be sustained without democratic consent.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: British politicians are clearly misreading EU provisions regarding freedom of movement http://www.europeansources.info/record/british-politicians-are-clearly-misreading-eu-provisions-regarding-freedom-of-movement/

ESO: Background information: David Cameron promises 'one last go' at EU migration curbs http://www.europeansources.info/record/david-cameron-promises-one-last-go-at-eu-migration-curbs/

ESO: Background information: UK exit better than restricting free movement, says German Chancellor http://www.europeansources.info/record/uk-exit-better-than-restricting-free-movement-says-german-chancellor/

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