This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/29/benefit-tourism-theresa-may-europe
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Benefit tourism warnings by Theresa May get short shrift from Europe | Benefit tourism warnings by Theresa May get short shrift from Europe |
| (12 days later) | |
| The European commission has given a cold reception to calls from the home secretary, Theresa May, for a clampdown on alleged "benefit tourism" and challenged her to produce evidence to back up her claims of large-scale abuse. | The European commission has given a cold reception to calls from the home secretary, Theresa May, for a clampdown on alleged "benefit tourism" and challenged her to produce evidence to back up her claims of large-scale abuse. |
| May claimed a major step forward last week when she announced the Germans, Dutch and Austrians had signed up to a joint letter calling for tougher measures to stamp out systematic fraud and abuse of the European Union's free movement directive by new migrants from other EU states. | May claimed a major step forward last week when she announced the Germans, Dutch and Austrians had signed up to a joint letter calling for tougher measures to stamp out systematic fraud and abuse of the European Union's free movement directive by new migrants from other EU states. |
| The move follows the promise by David Cameron of tough action in advance of the lifting of the remaining labour market restrictions on Romanians and Bulgarians working in Britain and other EU countries from the end of this year. | The move follows the promise by David Cameron of tough action in advance of the lifting of the remaining labour market restrictions on Romanians and Bulgarians working in Britain and other EU countries from the end of this year. |
| The full text of the letter – described as private by the Home Office – seen by the Guardian, claims that existing enforcement measures to deal with so-called benefit tourists, including expulsion, are ineffective. | The full text of the letter – described as private by the Home Office – seen by the Guardian, claims that existing enforcement measures to deal with so-called benefit tourists, including expulsion, are ineffective. |
| The four interior ministers, including May, claim that those who are expelled now for benefit fraud or abuse cannot be banned from re-entry at the same time. "In fact those who have been expelled because of fraud or document forgery cannot be stopped from re-entering the country virtually the next day." | The four interior ministers, including May, claim that those who are expelled now for benefit fraud or abuse cannot be banned from re-entry at the same time. "In fact those who have been expelled because of fraud or document forgery cannot be stopped from re-entering the country virtually the next day." |
| The joint letter says the lack of effective sanctions to enforce the regulations undermines the confidence of citizens in the receiving states in the European right to free movement. The letter also calls for an urgent review of EU rules that allow new migrants from another EU state to claim welfare benefits despite never having been employed or paid taxes there. | The joint letter says the lack of effective sanctions to enforce the regulations undermines the confidence of citizens in the receiving states in the European right to free movement. The letter also calls for an urgent review of EU rules that allow new migrants from another EU state to claim welfare benefits despite never having been employed or paid taxes there. |
| The four interior ministers say that the "significant number" of new immigrants who fraudulently draw social assistance is adding to the already "considerable strain" faced by a number towns and cities in various EU states, particularly on schooling, healthcare and adequate accommodation. | The four interior ministers say that the "significant number" of new immigrants who fraudulently draw social assistance is adding to the already "considerable strain" faced by a number towns and cities in various EU states, particularly on schooling, healthcare and adequate accommodation. |
| But the joint demand for fresh rules to ban new migrants from within the EU expelled from Britain and other countries for benefit fraud from returning has been greeted with scepticism in Brussels over the scale of the problem, and given a cool reception. | But the joint demand for fresh rules to ban new migrants from within the EU expelled from Britain and other countries for benefit fraud from returning has been greeted with scepticism in Brussels over the scale of the problem, and given a cool reception. |
| Jonathan Todd, spokesman for the EU's employment and social affairs commissioner, Laszlo Andor, said the commission had not received any evidence from member states of the extent of the abuse by new migrants. | Jonathan Todd, spokesman for the EU's employment and social affairs commissioner, Laszlo Andor, said the commission had not received any evidence from member states of the extent of the abuse by new migrants. |
| He said: "There are no figures in the letter. They mention the phenomenon, but there are no facts or figures to illustrate the issue which they raised. And we have not received from any other member state any specific figures concerning the extent of this alleged benefit tourism." | He said: "There are no figures in the letter. They mention the phenomenon, but there are no facts or figures to illustrate the issue which they raised. And we have not received from any other member state any specific figures concerning the extent of this alleged benefit tourism." |
| EU sources reportedly indicate that Bulgaria and Romania, who are not yet members of the border-free Schengen area within Europe, could be required to prevent nationals blacklisted for benefits fraud in another EU country from travelling. But it is believed this could still be challenged in the courts under the freedom of movement directive or on human rights grounds. | EU sources reportedly indicate that Bulgaria and Romania, who are not yet members of the border-free Schengen area within Europe, could be required to prevent nationals blacklisted for benefits fraud in another EU country from travelling. But it is believed this could still be challenged in the courts under the freedom of movement directive or on human rights grounds. |
| The four EU member states – Britain, Germany, Austria and Holland – want the issue urgently discussed and put on the agenda for the June meeting of of the EU's council of justice and home affairs ministers. | The four EU member states – Britain, Germany, Austria and Holland – want the issue urgently discussed and put on the agenda for the June meeting of of the EU's council of justice and home affairs ministers. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |