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Brussels considers plan to give UK 'emergency brake' on immigration Brussels considers plan to give UK 'emergency brake' on immigration
(35 minutes later)
A plan to allow the UK to use an “emergency brake” to curb immigration from the EU is being seriously considered by Brussels, the Czech prime minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, said on Friday. A plan to allow the UK to use an “emergency brake” to curb immigration from the EU is being seriously considered by Brussels, the Czech prime minister said on Friday.
At a joint press conference following talks with David Cameron in Prague, Sobotka said this was one of several ideas the pair had discussed as alternatives to Cameron’s proposal for the UK to be allowed to stop EU migrants claiming in-work benefits for four years after arriving in Britain. At a joint press conference following talks with David Cameron in Prague, Bohuslav Sobotka said this was one of several ideas the pair had discussed as alternatives to Cameron’s proposal for the UK to be allowed to stop EU migrants claiming in-work benefits for four years after arriving in Britain.
Sobotka sounded enthusiastic about the emergency brake plan, saying that it merited further discussion and that it would not be discriminatory because the same reserve power could be available to all EU member states.Sobotka sounded enthusiastic about the emergency brake plan, saying that it merited further discussion and that it would not be discriminatory because the same reserve power could be available to all EU member states.
Cameron was less committal, although he said he was “very happy” about the fact that EU leaders were discussing a range of alternative measures which might enable Britain to reduce the pressure generated by migration from within the EU. Cameron was less committal, although he said he was very happy about the fact that EU leaders were discussing a range of alternative measures that might enable Britain to reduce the pressure generated by migration from within the EU.
With less than four weeks to go until the start of the summit at which Cameron hopes to conclude his EU renegotiation, pressure for a deal is intensifying and talks are particularly focused on his four-year benefits curb demand – the most problematic of all his requests.With less than four weeks to go until the start of the summit at which Cameron hopes to conclude his EU renegotiation, pressure for a deal is intensifying and talks are particularly focused on his four-year benefits curb demand – the most problematic of all his requests.
Sobotka said the Czech Republic would not accept any measures that were discriminatory. But he said he and Cameron had discussed “possible alternatives [to the four-year benefits curb] to meet the same objectives, ie make it possible for the UK government to respond to the mass influx of workers into the UK”. Sobotka said the Czech Republic would not accept any measures that were discriminatory. But he said he had discussed with Cameron “possible alternatives [to the four-year benefits curb] to meet the same objectives, ie make it possible for the UK government to respond to the mass influx of workers into the UK”.
He went on: “One of those alternatives is one that I believe can be discussed further. The option involves giving a member state a possibility of an emergency brake if there is an enormous pressure on its social welfare system.”He went on: “One of those alternatives is one that I believe can be discussed further. The option involves giving a member state a possibility of an emergency brake if there is an enormous pressure on its social welfare system.”
There have been reports about such an emergency brake being included in the UK’s renegotiation deal, but it is not an idea EU leaders have generally discussed openly as a viable option.There have been reports about such an emergency brake being included in the UK’s renegotiation deal, but it is not an idea EU leaders have generally discussed openly as a viable option.
However, Sobotka did not elaborate on how the emergency brake might work and government sources have admitted that the phrase means different things to different people.However, Sobotka did not elaborate on how the emergency brake might work and government sources have admitted that the phrase means different things to different people.
One version would involve the EU allowing the UK to stop EU migrants entering the country to work in a genuine crisis where services were being overwhelmed. But most of the discussion about emergency brake mechanisms is focusing on less draconian proposals, involving the government having the right to suspend benefits or services for EU migrants in the UK when the “brake” is applied.One version would involve the EU allowing the UK to stop EU migrants entering the country to work in a genuine crisis where services were being overwhelmed. But most of the discussion about emergency brake mechanisms is focusing on less draconian proposals, involving the government having the right to suspend benefits or services for EU migrants in the UK when the “brake” is applied.
Confusingly, the term has also been applied to a quite separate proposal to give countries outside the eurozone an emergency power to stop eurozone countries imposing unwelcome laws on them – though that is not what Sobotka was referring to.Confusingly, the term has also been applied to a quite separate proposal to give countries outside the eurozone an emergency power to stop eurozone countries imposing unwelcome laws on them – though that is not what Sobotka was referring to.
Stressing that he was “a deeply practical person”, Cameron said his four-year benefits curb plan was still on that table, but he would be open to anything that might have “a similarly powerful effect” on EU migration levels in the UK.Stressing that he was “a deeply practical person”, Cameron said his four-year benefits curb plan was still on that table, but he would be open to anything that might have “a similarly powerful effect” on EU migration levels in the UK.
Asked if he would take part in television debates during the EU referendum campaign, Cameron said he would be “very happy” to discuss this nearer the time, adding: “I confidently predict that by the end of this referendum campaign people will be sick of the sight of me on their television screens in whatever formats we decide to choose.” Asked if he would take part in television debates during the EU referendum campaign, Cameron said he would be very happy to discuss this nearer the time, adding: “I confidently predict that by the end of this referendum campaign people will be sick of the sight of me on their television screens in whatever formats we decide to choose.”
Earlier, Michael Howard, the former Conservative leader, hinted that he would be voting to leave the EU in the referendum. Although he would like Britain to stay in a genuinely reformed EU, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he thought it was “not looking very likely” that such genuine reform would be achieved. Earlier, Michael Howard, the former Conservative leader, hinted that he would be voting to leave the EU in the referendum. Although he would like Britain to stay in a genuinely reformed EU, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he thought it was not looking very likely that such genuine reform would be achieved.