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| EU talks: David Cameron seeking changes to in-work benefits 'brake' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| David Cameron will suggest changes to a proposed "emergency brake" on in-work benefits for EU migrants when he meets the European Council president later. | David Cameron will suggest changes to a proposed "emergency brake" on in-work benefits for EU migrants when he meets the European Council president later. |
| EU officials have suggested Britain could use the brake for up to four years, but would have to prove public services were under excessive strain. | EU officials have suggested Britain could use the brake for up to four years, but would have to prove public services were under excessive strain. |
| It could be imposed within three months of the UK applying, if EU states agree. | It could be imposed within three months of the UK applying, if EU states agree. |
| But Mr Cameron will tell Donald Tusk he wants the brake in force straight after the EU referendum, with no time limit. | But Mr Cameron will tell Donald Tusk he wants the brake in force straight after the EU referendum, with no time limit. |
| The prime minister will meet Mr Tusk at Downing Street to finalise a package of measures to put to EU leaders ahead of a summit, to be held from 18 to 19 February. | |
| 'Stop gap' | |
| As part of his attempts to renegotiate the UK's membership of the EU, Mr Cameron had proposed denying in-work benefits to all EU migrants until they had been in the UK for four years. | As part of his attempts to renegotiate the UK's membership of the EU, Mr Cameron had proposed denying in-work benefits to all EU migrants until they had been in the UK for four years. |
| However, EU leaders rejected this and proposed the "emergency brake" as an alternative. | However, EU leaders rejected this and proposed the "emergency brake" as an alternative. |
| The proposed brake, full details of which have not been confirmed, would allow any EU state to deny in-work benefits to new arrivals for up to four years - but only after proving services were under strain and securing the approval of a majority of other EU states. | The proposed brake, full details of which have not been confirmed, would allow any EU state to deny in-work benefits to new arrivals for up to four years - but only after proving services were under strain and securing the approval of a majority of other EU states. |
| Mr Cameron said the current proposal was "not good enough". | Mr Cameron said the current proposal was "not good enough". |
| He is expected to tell Mr Tusk the brake must come into force immediately after the UK's referendum on EU membership, and must remain in place long enough to stem EU migration to the UK. | He is expected to tell Mr Tusk the brake must come into force immediately after the UK's referendum on EU membership, and must remain in place long enough to stem EU migration to the UK. |
| David Cameron's four main aims for renegotiation | David Cameron's four main aims for renegotiation |
| Referendum timeline: What will happen when? | Referendum timeline: What will happen when? |
| Guide: All you need to know about the referendum | Guide: All you need to know about the referendum |
| Q&A: What does Britain want from Europe? | Q&A: What does Britain want from Europe? |
| More: BBC News EU referendum special | More: BBC News EU referendum special |
| Mr Cameron will also say the brake should be seen only as a "stop gap" while a more permanent solution is found. | |
| The PM will tell Mr Tusk he is prepared to delay the referendum, which has been promised by the end of 2017, until he is satisfied with the deal on offer. | |
| As well as restricting access to benefits, Mr Cameron wants extra powers for national parliaments to block EU legislation, measures to protect non-euro states and exemption for Britain from the EU's ambition for "ever-closer union". | |
| 'Thin gruel' | |
| Stephen Booth, co-director of thinktank Open Europe, which campaigns for reforms in the EU, said there were question marks over how the emergency brake would work - and who would control it. | |
| He said: "If it's felt that this brake is not under UK control, it's questionable how much it's worth." | |
| UKIP leader Nigel Farage has dismissed the proposals under discussion, saying they would not deter EU migrants from moving to the UK. | |
| He said: "The progress isn't very good, is it? We get an emergency brake that we have to ask permission to use. | |
| "He will go to the summit in February like Oliver going up to the table and saying, 'Please Sir, can we have some more concessions?'. It's all pretty thin gruel." |