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| Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev warns Cameron on immigration | Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev warns Cameron on immigration |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The president of Bulgaria has issued a warning to David Cameron about his plans to toughen rules on immigration. | The president of Bulgaria has issued a warning to David Cameron about his plans to toughen rules on immigration. |
| Rosen Plevneliev told the Observer Britain's image as a global power would be harmed if it moved towards what he described as isolation and nationalism. | |
| Restrictions on movement of Bulgarians and Romanians within the EU are due to end on 1 January. | Restrictions on movement of Bulgarians and Romanians within the EU are due to end on 1 January. |
| No 10 said that while free movement was a principle of the EU, it could not be a completely unqualified one. | |
| There have been warnings from some UK politicians that the UK could see an influx of migrants when the restrictions are lifted. | |
| In response, the coalition government is planning measures to make EU migrants wait three months before they are eligible for out-of-work benefits and stop them claiming housing benefit until they have a job. | |
| 'Tolerant and humane' | 'Tolerant and humane' |
| Bulgarian President Mr Plevneliev told the Observer Britain should stay true to its legacy as "a great global power that pioneered integration" and not play on people's fears. | Bulgarian President Mr Plevneliev told the Observer Britain should stay true to its legacy as "a great global power that pioneered integration" and not play on people's fears. |
| "Isolating Britain and damaging Britain's reputation is not the right history to write," he said. | "Isolating Britain and damaging Britain's reputation is not the right history to write," he said. |
| He went on: "Bulgarian people are raising a lot of questions today about the democratic, tolerant and humane British society." | He went on: "Bulgarian people are raising a lot of questions today about the democratic, tolerant and humane British society." |
| He asked whether Great Britain today was "writing a history of a switch to isolation, nationalism and short-term political approaches?". | |
| "Of course, Great Britain will make its planning and will take its decisions. But some of them could be right, some of them could be wrong. Some of them are bold and some of them are, I would say, not long-term orientated decisions." | "Of course, Great Britain will make its planning and will take its decisions. But some of them could be right, some of them could be wrong. Some of them are bold and some of them are, I would say, not long-term orientated decisions." |
| He said politicians should be "ready to say the inconvenient truth" and "fight for unpleasant but necessary decisions". | He said politicians should be "ready to say the inconvenient truth" and "fight for unpleasant but necessary decisions". |
| Last month, the country's ambassador, Konstantin Dimitrov, said about 8,000 migrants a year from Bulgaria could come to the UK when the restrictions end. | Last month, the country's ambassador, Konstantin Dimitrov, said about 8,000 migrants a year from Bulgaria could come to the UK when the restrictions end. |
| 'No-entry sign' | 'No-entry sign' |
| Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said curbs on migrants' benefit rights were "sensible and reasonable" but plans for a cap of 75,000 on EU migrants were "pointless". | Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said curbs on migrants' benefit rights were "sensible and reasonable" but plans for a cap of 75,000 on EU migrants were "pointless". |
| He has already condemned Home Office plans for a possible cap, leaked last week, as "illegal and unworkable". | He has already condemned Home Office plans for a possible cap, leaked last week, as "illegal and unworkable". |
| Home Secretary Theresa May said she was "not proposing to introduce such a cap now" but there was a "possibility of reform in the future". | Home Secretary Theresa May said she was "not proposing to introduce such a cap now" but there was a "possibility of reform in the future". |
| Mr Clegg wrote in the Sunday Times: "Talk of arbitrary caps on the number of EU nationals is as pointless as it is distracting." | Mr Clegg wrote in the Sunday Times: "Talk of arbitrary caps on the number of EU nationals is as pointless as it is distracting." |
| He added: "Sticking a big no-entry sign on the cliffs of Dover may be politically popular, but at a huge economic cost. | He added: "Sticking a big no-entry sign on the cliffs of Dover may be politically popular, but at a huge economic cost. |
| "What would happen if tonight every European living in the UK boarded a ship or plane and went home? | "What would happen if tonight every European living in the UK boarded a ship or plane and went home? |
| "Are we really that keen to see the back of German lawyers, Dutch accountants or Finnish engineers? Do we want the NHS to fall over and the City of London to grind to a halt?" | "Are we really that keen to see the back of German lawyers, Dutch accountants or Finnish engineers? Do we want the NHS to fall over and the City of London to grind to a halt?" |
| Such a cap could lead to tit-for-tat restrictions on Britons living abroad, he said, and Britain would be "one step closer to the exit" from the EU, putting economic recovery at risk. | Such a cap could lead to tit-for-tat restrictions on Britons living abroad, he said, and Britain would be "one step closer to the exit" from the EU, putting economic recovery at risk. |