The European Union has refused to give Prime Minister David Cameron the four-year ban on EU migrant benefits he had asked for.
Cameron had demanded that people coming to the UK “must live here and contribute for four years before they qualify for in-work benefits or social housing”.
However, according to a report in the Independent, documents of Brussels’ proposals show the European Union has instead only offered the UK the ability to partially reduce benefits for four years – rather than introduce a four-year waiting period as specified by the Prime Minister.
The document offers an “emergency brake” on in-work benefits for up to four years if there is pressure on a particular member state, which would have to be approved by the EU council.
This is not quite what Cameron wanted. Instead, there is a “graduated” limitation to “take account of the growing connection of the worker with the labour market of the host member state”. That means EU migrants would not face a total ban on in-work benefits for four years. European Council president Donald Tusk unveiled the draft deal with Cameron on Tuesday morning.Cameron also wanted a ban on people being able to claim child benefit in the UK and send it back to families in other EU states.
On child benefit, the proposal would not “end the practice of sending child benefit overseas”, just limit the amount that is remitted.
Out-of-work benefits are unaffected by the changes and Cameron had not sought any changes to these rules, the report in the Independent said.
The deal also offers a ‘red card’ system on new laws and promises on the euro. But Boris Johnson raised severe doubts about the red card system – which will require Britain to ally with 14 other nations to stop EU laws – insisting it was ‘not going to be enough’ and warning there was ‘much more to be done’.
Cameron will visit Poland and Denmark on Friday, as he embarks on a whirlwind charm offensive to persuade the other 27 EU leaders to sign up to the Tusk package in Brussels on February 18-19.
If Cameron can get an agreement in February, he is expected to hold a referendum in June on whether Britain should remain in the EU.
Cameron has until the end of 2017 to hold a referendum.
Cameron said there was “detail to be worked on” before a crunch summit on February 18-19.
