Nick Clegg backs ’eminently sensible’ EU benefit changes

The United Kingdom Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith was reported in an article in the Sunday Times on the 12 January 2014 as saying that he was talking to other EU governments about trying to restrict access to welfare for EU citizens who moved to another EU Member State. Mr Duncan Smith said the UK, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland wanted to change EU law.

Later on the same day Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said it was 'sensible' to consider further curbs to the benefits EU migrants could claim. Also Rachel Reeves from Labour said the party might support proposals to extend period for which new migrants are unable to claim benefits.

William Hague and Kenneth Clarke clashed over EU immigration on 12 January 2014. The former chancellor dismissed claims that too many migrants have arrived from EU, saying they have made positive contribution.

On 13 January 2014, the EU Commission released guidelines on social benefit eligibility, calling debate as 'misguided'. On the 15 January 2014, EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso called for an open idea of Europe, away from narrow and "chauvinistic" perspectives which might be seen, according to EurActiv, as criticism to the British stances on the EU.

In January 2014, the Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (University of Gothenburg) published a report whereby it showed that the UK would benefit from Bulgarian and Romanian migrants.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Cameron to ask Brussels for cap on EU migrants http://www.europeansources.info/record/cameron-to-ask-brussels-for-cap-on-eu-migrants/

The Guardian, 12.01.14: Labour toughens stance on EU benefit restrictions http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/12/labour-tougher-eu-benefit-restrictions

The Guardian, 13.01.14: William Hague and Kenneth Clarke clash over EU immigration http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jan/13/william-hague-kenneth-clarke-eu-immigration

ESO: Background information: Free movement: Commission publishes guide on application of ‘Habitual Residence Test’ for social security / EU spells out rules on migrant access to benefits http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-free-movement-commission-publishes-guide-on-application-of-habitual-residence-test-for-social-security-eu-spells-out-rules-on-migrant-access-to-benefits/

ESO: Background information: Speech by President Barroso on the Greek Presidency http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-by-president-barroso-on-the-greek-presidency/

Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration: Report, January 2014: The fiscal consequences of unrestricted immigration from Romania and Bulgaria http://www.cream-migration.org/publ_uploads/CDP_04_14.pdf

EUObserver, 15.01.14: UK to benefit from Bulgarian and Romanian migrants, study says http://euobserver.com/social/122732

The Local, 15.01.14: 'Migration net benefit ignored in heated debate' http://www.thelocal.se/20140115/immigrants-net-worth-not-relevant-data

EurActiv [Opinion], 17.01.14: UKIP's call to ban migrants is not just unrealistic, it is counter-productive http://www.euractiv.com/uk-europe/ukip-call-ban-migrants-just-unre-analysis-532839

BBC News, 17.01.14: European freedom of movement rules: EU reaction to UK plan http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25780683

BBC News, 17.01.14: Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin on Bulgarians in UK http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25780677

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