EU rejects UK threat to rewrite immigrant laws

The European Parliament has declared that the rules on the freedom of movement will remain non-negotiable, while the UK attempts to cut down immigration. 

The parliament’s president, Martin Shultz, said that he takes the UK’s demands “very seriously”. He said he would like to see the UK’s plans for reform and for Great Britain to remain in the EU to shape policies including climate change and single market and development policies. 

He added: “As to the debate on free movement, this is happening not only in the UK but across many member states. The principle of free movement of people has been one of the greatest successes the EU has, it is a fundamental principle and it’s not up for negotiation any more than renegotiating the principle of the free movement of goods, services or capital.” 

He believes that if the treaty were to go through the parliament, it would almost certainly get blocked. Many of the politicians, who are competing for the European Commissioner presidency, have opposed David Cameron’s UK deal. 

The British prime minister has already placed tougher rules on EU immigrants regarding benefit claims. As the freedom of movement issue reopens, home secretary Teresa May is looking at capping the annual number of immigrants entering the UK to 75,000. 

Justyna Majewska