LONDON
As the British government seeks to toughen up its immigration system, it also wants to limit the number of European migrants.
The Home Office aims to decrease the number of migrants coming from EU countries to the UK from 106 thousand to 75 thousand per annum. It also wants to restrict the benefits provided to migrants during their first five years in the UK.
Britain has concerns of a "surge of migration" as Bulgarian and Romanian citizens are due to obtain free movement and full access to the labour market in the island after January 1 next year. Previously, the British government revealed that they would take measures to ensure that new EU migrants will be banned from claiming out-of-work and housing benefits immediately. Moreover, the UK government will also be able to deport those not in the country for work purposes that are caught begging or sleeping rough.
According to a leaked Home Office document which proposes that "skilled migrants" from countries like Germany, Netherlands and Austria will be able enter the UK once they are offered a job. Additionally, low skilled labour from the EU member states will be allowed into the county when there is a "need".
Britain’s desire to cap the number of EU migrants is expected to stir a row in Brussels.
In his latest statement, British Prime Minister David Cameron stated that the UK was not a soft touch for claiming benefits, despite EU migrants having access to various benefits in Britain.
It is estimated that about one million immigrants from central and eastern Europe are settled in the UK. The Conservative Party believes the EU needs reforms especially in the field of free movement of EU nationals.
Premier Cameron suggests that new EU member countries should withhold free movement and work until their national income has reached a certain level. If the Conservative Party wins a majority at the next general election, Cameron wishes to take a referendum on Britain’s 40 year membership of the EU.
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