| Author (Corporate) | BBC |
|---|---|
| Series Title | BBC News |
| Series Details | 16.10.14 |
| Publication Date | 16/10/2014 |
| Content Type | News |
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Report of comments by United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron on the 16 October 2014. He said that action was needed to curb EU immigration and pledged to have 'one last go' at negotiating a better deal for the UK in Europe. However, outgoing European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on the BBC on the 19 October 2014 that free movement of people within the EU was an 'essential' principle that could not be changed. He also said that the the UK would have 'zero' influence if it voted to leave the EU. If Britain were to leave, he said, it would be 'a historic mistake'. Mr Barroso gave a major speech at think tank Chatham House, London on the 20 October 2014: 'Ten Years at the Helm of the European Commission: Some Reflections on Europe'. Mr Cameron responded by saying that his 'boss' was the British people and that 'what we need in Britain is a renegotiation of our relationship with the European Union and then a referendum where the British people decide 'do we stay in this reformed organisation or do we leave it'?' Incoming new European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on the 22 October 2014 that freedom of movement within the EU was 'a basic principle' of European cooperation and 'will not be changed'. However, Mr Juncker did say that there were abuses of the system and rules could be tightened to prevent these. German Chancellor Angela Merkel appeared to reject the prospect of substantial change regarding EU immigration, telling the Sunday Times on the 26 October 2014: 'Germany will not tamper with the fundamental principles of free movement in the EU'. |
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| Source Link | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29642604 |
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| Subject Categories | Internal Markets |
| Countries / Regions | United Kingdom |
