David Cameron floats ‘emergency brake’ on EU immigration (because he's losing votes)

[muriel_volestrangler]

Yes, Cameron is apparently considering asking the EU to start an 'emergency' process to limit immigration from the EU.

Downing Street described as “speculation” reports that an emergency brake procedure was part of his proposed EU renegotiation, but the idea has been mooted in senior Conservative circles for several months.

The move has the attraction of sounding dramatic while in effect it might be achievable within existing EU treaties. However, under current rules it could only be triggered in the event of a genuine emergency, such as a natural disaster.

There are provisions in the EU treaties to suspend certain freedoms – for example, on capital and free movement – in emergencies. Capital restrictions were imposed on Cyprus after its banking crisis.

On free movement, the emergency provisions to allow EU immigration to be curbed have never been fleshed out in a directive and Mr Cameron might find some support in other European capitals for such a move.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1157c58a-5502-11e4-89e8-00144feab7de.html?siteedition=uk

What's the 'emergency'? Unemployment dropping below 2 million? You'd think getting it back to the pre-crash levels, below 6% would be something they'd be touting as good news, and a sign that immigration is not preventing British people getting work. It really takes the biscuit when the emergency seems to be nothing more than UKIP taking too many votes from the Tories.

[T_i_B]

1. Are UKIP voters even going to listen?

The Tories have gone out of their way to appease UKIP and it's got them nowhere. They would actually be better off explaining how UKIP's immigration policy is not realistic, rather then copying it in a blind panic.

[Turborama]

2. Flashback to May: Britain will not stop EU migrants coming here to work, says Cameron

From the Torygraph...

By James Kirkup, and Steven Swinford10:00PM BST 11 May 2014

Britain will not “put up the barriers” to stop migrants from other European Union countries coming here to work, David Cameron has said.

The Prime Minister said that EU rules allowing people to move freely between countries are “important” and will remain in place, despite controversy over the immigration they allow.

Mr Cameron said that he rejected calls from the UK Independence Party to pull out of the EU and abandon European rules that allow citizens of member states to work in other EU countries without restriction.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/10823753/Britain-will-not-stop-EU-migrants-coming-here-to-work-says-Cameron.html

As you point out very well, what's the sudden emergency, apart from Cameron having to change his soiled pants?

[Turborama]

3. EU Leaders Will Reject Tory Attempts To Change Free Movement, Says Barroso

European leaders will reject any attempt by David Cameron to tamper with “fundamental” elements of the EU, such as the free movement of citizens, the outgoing president of the European commission, José Manuel Barroso, has warned.

In a speech in which he warned that the prime minister was making a historic mistake, Barroso dismissed possible Conservative plans to impose a cap on EU migrants as an “airy fairy” proposal that would never be accepted.

=snip=

“I have been speaking to some colleagues from the European council – Angela Merkel and others – who are very sympathetic to the British staying in the EU. There are points they will not accept.”

He added: “It seems to me that any kind of airy fairy cap is against the fundamental principle that is freedom of movement. That, I am sure, will not be accepted. We are very much ready to find solutions for the abuse of benefits. But we should not put in question the very important principle of freedom of movement that, by the way, is an essential part of the internal market.”

Full article: http://nnw.net/eu-leaders-will-reject-tory-attempts-to-change-free-movement-says-barroso-world-news/