Thread: EU orders Britain: Let migrants claim benefits when they arr

'We're throwing open the doors to benefit tourists': EU plan to let migrants claim as soon as they enter UK is blasted

By Daniel Martin
Last updated at 1:52 PM on 30th September 2011
1428 Comments

The EU's ruling that Britain should allow all European citizens to claim benefits 'must be vigorously opposed', according to a migration watchdog.
Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migration Watch UK, has warned that the decision is 'an open invitation to benefit tourism'.

Europe has given Britain two months to scrap its policies which prevent benefit tourists claiming billions of pounds in handouts.


'Should be scrapped': The European Commission said it would take the Government to court unless it draws up plans to axe restrictions on claims by immigrants

Last night the European Commission said it would take the Government to court unless it draws up plans to axe restrictions on claims by immigrants, saying they are against the law and must be scrapped.

Brussels bureaucrats acted after receiving a complaint that the rules infringed the human rights of EU citizens.

But Sir Andrew warned the EU ruling could be a disaster, adding: 'Clearly this risks blowing the Government's immigration policy out of the water.'

And Employment Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said the move threatened to break the 'vital link' which should exist between taxpayers and their own government.

He added: 'The EU settlement is supposed to protect the right of member states to make their own social security arrangements.

'But we are now seeing a rising tide of judgments from the European institutions using other legal avenues to erode away these rights, and we should be gravely concerned.'

It is feared the change could open the door to tens of thousands of Eastern Europeans who are currently deterred from coming to Britain – costing taxpayers up to £2.5billion a year in extra welfare payments.


Opening the door: It is feared tens of thousands of Eastern Europeans currently deterred from coming to Britain could cost taxpayers up to £2.5billion a year in extra welfare payments

At present a ‘habitual residency’ test is used to establish whether EU migrants are eligible for benefits.

To qualify for jobseekers’ allowance, employment support allowance, pension credit and income support, they must demonstrate they have either worked here previously or have a good opportunity to get a job.

But the European Commission said this ‘right to reside’ test indirectly discriminates against nationals from other EU states by enforcing a set of conditions that effectively tests their right to state handouts.

Yesterday members announced they were considering taking the UK to the EU’s Court of Justice if it does not scrap the test.

And they gave the Government two months to inform them of the measures it takes to enforce the rules.

Officials in the Department for Work and Pensions warn it would cost anything from £620million a year to £2.46billion if they have to scrap the test – seriously hampering plans to rein in public spending.

Employment minister Chris Grayling said: ‘This is a very unwelcome development.

‘It’s obviously right that we support those who work and pay their taxes here, but it’s clearly completely unacceptable that we should open our doors to benefit tourism.

‘I’m really surprised the European Commission has chosen to go into battle on this very sensitive issue, when there are clearly far more pressing problems to solve in Europe.’


'Unwelcome development': Employment minister Chris Grayling

A source at the DWP added: ‘This could open the doors of the benefits system to anyone from the EU, even if they have no intention of working.
‘That would be bad enough if we were in good economic times, but we are not in good economic times.’

‘We will fight this tooth and nail. This is a battle we will win.’

Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party, said: ‘Once again we see the EC telling us how to run our country and people are becoming sick and tired of it.

‘The UK is perfectly within its rights to require EU nationals to fulfil certain conditions before taking advantage of our generous benefits system.
‘If the EC gets its way then there will be a far greater burden on the British taxpayer as more money will need to be found for the social security system.

‘The “right to resideâ€

Revolt over EU benefits diktat: 12 nations join UK fight to curb welfare tourism free-for-all

~ Alliance to rebel against EU plans to make Britain open its doors to 'benefits tourists'
~ Britain could be hit with an extra £2.5billion in welfare payments

By Daniel Martin
Last updated at 10:43 AM on 1st October 2011
922 Comments

An alliance of European countries is rebelling against EU plans to make Britain open its doors to thousands of ‘benefit tourists’.

Ministers have joined forces with 12 other nations – including France, Germany and Denmark – angry at the European Commission’s threat to take the UK to court over rules which limit foreigners’ ability to claim benefits.

If the Commission gets its way, Britain could be hit with an extra £2.5billion in welfare payments, making it even harder to tackle our huge deficit.


Present rules: Currently, the UK says EU immigrants must have worked here previously, or have a decent chance of getting a job, before they can claim benefits

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith warned that the move was just the latest example of ‘unelectable and unaccountable’ European institutions’ desire to grab power from national parliaments.

The row comes as Tories gather for their annual conference in Manchester amid a growing clamour from Eurosceptic backbenchers to use the eurozone crisis as a lever to get Brussels powers returned to Britain.

Last night former Cabinet minister John Redwood said the issue showed why Foreign Secretary William Hague should enter into negotiations with EU leaders to get powers handed back to Britain. He wrote on his blog: ‘What is he doing about it? Why won’t he get on with renegotiating the UK position?

‘Most UK electors want a trade agreement but do not want to be bossed around by a high spending legislature poking its nose into our domestic affairs.’


Diktat: The European Commission in Brussels gave the UK two months to scrap the rules, saying they infringe the 'human rights' of EU citizens


Concerns: It is feared the change could open the door to tens of thousands of Eastern Europeans who are currently deterred from coming here

At present the UK says that EU immigrants must have worked here previously, or have a decent chance of getting a job, before they can claim benefits.

But on Thursday Brussels gave the UK two months to scrap the rules, saying they infringe the ‘human rights’ of EU citizens.

It is feared the change could open the door to tens of thousands of Eastern Europeans who are currently deterred from coming here.

Benefits are much more generous in the West than among the former Soviet-dominated countries of the East.


'Out of order': Iain Duncan Smith said Europe was encroaching on social security

For example, a person who has been unemployed for more than three months in Poland gets a dole of just £110 a month. This is less than half the £270 or so he would get if he moved to the UK.

So far only Britain has been threatened with court action, but yesterday an EU official warned that other countries could be next if their residence rules are deemed too strict.

Chris Grayling, the Employment Minister, revealed growing anger among European governments and said he would be bringing up the issue at a meeting of ministers in Brussels in three weeks’ time.

His alliance is made up of prosperous Western European countries which are also worried about an influx from former Communist states if they are forced to change their rules.

They, too, face huge costs if they have to tighten up their rules. France, for example, will currently not pay out benefits unless migrants have worked in the country for at least four months.

Mr Grayling told the BBC: ‘There is a very definite difference of opinion between us and the Commission over this. I don’t think somebody coming from another EU state should be able to access benefit simply by turning up here and saying, “I am going to live in the UK from now onâ€

Revolt over EU benefits diktat: 12 nations join UK fight to curb welfare tourism free-for-all

Thank heaven. Maybe they now understand the relationship between EU membership and national insolvency. Maybe the Europeans are waking up and realizing the EU is NOT the wonderful solution to stability and prosperity they though it was when they allowed their elected officials to foist it off on them. Despite the difficulties and downside, the best thing for Europe will be the breakup of the EU and the return of national sovereignty to the member nations. The only other option will be the eventual establishment of the Totalitarian State of Europa ala G. Orwell.

Isn't this happening here already? Sure we have laws against it but so many sanctuary cities are using the "Don't ask, Don't tell" policy for applicants it's a de facto rule.

Isn't this happening here already? Sure we have laws against it but so many sanctuary cities are using the "Don't ask, Don't tell" policy for applicants it's a de facto rule.

Which is why most of those cities and their home states find themselves on the verge of bankruptcy, much like the not-so-sovereign nations of the EU. However, as you said, the laws are on the books (not so in the EU). The only reason sanctuary cities exist at all in the US is that our government will not enforce those laws.

We have taken the first major step in changing that with the 2010 elections. Our next major opportunity will be the 2012 elections. At least illegal immigration is being debated. We barely heard a word in 2008 and 2010. It is now one of the top issues after national debt/deficit, OBAMACARE, and unemployment/economic recession. Once voters fully understand the relationship of illegal immigration to the national debt, national deficit, unemployment, economic stagnation and high medical costs, I believe we will take a major step in the right direction.