Cameron urges migrant curbs, warns on British EU exit
London (AFP) - Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday promised tough curbs on welfare for EU migrants to counter a surge in arrivals and warned European leaders that blocking them could put Britain's EU membership in doubt.
He said the package of reforms would require changes to European Union treaties but said he was "confident" he could deliver a deal.
Immigration to Britain has increased sharply in the past decade and Cameron is under intense pressure to address voters' concerns ahead of the May 2015 general election.
His Conservative party is losing support to the UK Independence Party (UKIP), which advocates leaving the EU altogether as the only way to curb EU migration.
In a long-awaited speech on the issue, Cameron stopped short of calling for a cap on new arrivals or a mooted "emergency brake", which had caused consternation in EU capitals.
But he announced plans to make EU workers wait four years to receive income tax credits and access social housing, and vowed to stop migrants claiming benefits for children living elsewhere in Europe. ...
Posts
