This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/eu-offers-david-cameron-new-deal-that-will-deny-benefits-to-migrants-a6839026.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
EU 'offers David Cameron new deal' that will deny benefits to migrants EU 'offers David Cameron new deal' that will deny benefits to migrants
(35 minutes later)
The European Union is offering Britain a new "emergency brake" rule that could help curb immigration from other EU states in a reform package before a British referendum on EU membership, sources close to the negotiations told Reuters on Thursday. The European Union is set to offer David Cameron his main demand in his negotiations to change Britain’s terms of membership of the bloc, it has been reported.
The proposal would give any member state that could convince EU governments that its welfare system was under excessive strain a right to deny benefits to new workers arriving from other EU countries for up to four years. That has been a key demand of Prime Minister David Cameron and one which many EU leaders have said risks conflict with citizens' treaty rights. The Reuters news agency cites sources that say the UK will be given the ability to limit access to in-work benefits four-year break as an “emergency brake” on migration from other EU states.
Cameron will discuss the proposal in Brussels on Friday with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, whose institution would have to initiate any such legislation, sources said. Cameron is keen to have measures adopted that can convince Britons to vote to stay in the EU, possibly as early as June. The demand forms the centrepiece of Mr Cameron’s renegotiation strategy, which also includes demands to cut red tape, protect the single market for countries outside the Euro, and exempt Britain from “ever closer union”.
If he and Juncker agree, then a broader, outline package of EU reforms could be approved by Cameron in a meeting on Sunday with European Council President Donald Tusk. Much of the rest of the package has already been broadly agreed, the sources said. At last year’s general election David Cameron promised to renegotiate the terms of Britain’s membership of the EU and then hold a referendum on whether it should remain.
Tusk, who chairs EU summits, is expected to circulate written proposals on reform to the other 27 EU governments early next week with the aim of resolving remaining disagreements when EU leaders next meet in Brussels on Feb. 18-19. The plebiscite is set to be held by the end of 2017 but insiders say it could be held as early as this summer.
Reuters It has not been clear whether Mr Cameron’s demands would require changing EU treaties, which would require the unanimous consent of other EU member states, some of whom are opposed to the plan.
Reuters says that the PM will discuss the proposals on Friday with the European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker.
The Commission would reportedly initiate any EU legislation required to pass the measure. 
A broader package of EU reforms could be approved as early as Sunday.
Mr Cameron’s demands are more limited in scope than previous rhetorical claims about curbing freedom of movement made back in December.
Ukip leader Nigel Farage already said late last year that the proposals would change nothing and that the entire negotiation process is a “charade”.
Recent polls on whether Britain would leave the European Union have shown varying and inconclusive results.