LONDON: Brussels has stepped up its fightback against UK attempts to curb EU immigration as leaders of the European parliament declared that rules on freedom of movement were completely non-negotiable, and made clear that attempts to change them would be blocked.
In the latest response to calls from UK politicians to unpick the EU treaties and rewrite one of its founding principles, the European parliament’s president, Martin Schulz, said that while he took UK demands for reform of the EU “very seriously” there was no question of the parliament agreeing to reopen the rule-book on free movement.
Schulz, a German Social Democrat, said he would like to see David Cameron’s plans for EU reform, and wanted the UK to remain inside the EU to shape policy on everything from climate change to the single market and development policy. But he added: “Where we differ is that I would rather see the UK making its case for reform from within the EU rather than with one hand on the escape hatch.
“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 stressed that such treaty change “needs unanimous support and ratification of all member states”. It would also need to pass through the European parliament, where it would almost certainly be blocked.
It came as the Sunday Telegraph said 95 Tory MPs had written to the prime minister demanding parliament must be given the power to veto every aspect of EU law. Backbenchers led by Bernard Jenkin want the government to reverse the spread of human rights law, relieve businesses of red tape from Brussels and regain control over immigration. The Guardian
