Connect with us

EU

Viviane Reding slams UK politicians over immigration

SHARE:

Published

12 years ago

on

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. You can unsubscribe at any time.

_73046884_73046878Speaking at the University of Cambridge on 17 February, Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Commissioner Viviane Reding has told UK politicians to stop blaming immigration for the country's difficulties, and instead should "work on the quality of education and welfare".

Reding further asserted that the "distorted" debate about the UK's future in the European Union was distracting from vital efforts to boost EU economies.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to negotiate reforms to the UK's relationship with the EU and then deliver an in/out referendum by 2017 if the Conservatives win the 2015 general election.

But Reding said: "The four freedoms enshrined in the EU treaties come as a package. You either enjoy all of them - or none. Those who benefit from the free flow of capital, goods and services must also accept that our citizens are free to move in the EU to travel, study and work."

She continued: "Politicians also need to work on the quality of education and welfare, so that people in this country can find employment and enjoy reasonable social standards. Simply trying to project all problems on the supposed issue of too many foreigners moving into the country is certainly not the answer. It is not EU policies that are causing problems in this area. But somehow this misconception prevails, and there is a sense that all difficulties could be solved if the UK could get out of them, that it needs to free itself of supposedly 'alien', harmful rules and principles that are imposed on it."

The UK appeared to be "gradually, inexorably drifting away" from the EU, she said, and Eurosceptic arguments that the UK would be "leaner and meaner" outside the EU ignored the fact that it would face huge problems negotiating favourable deals to access the single market, the commissioner claimed.

"We don't need this," Reding concluded. "What we need are great ideas and solid arguments about how we can strengthen the EU and make it more competitive on the world stage."

Advertisement

Share this article:

Share this:
Related Topics:
EU Reporter publishes articles from a variety of outside sources which express a wide range of viewpoints. The positions taken in these articles are not necessarily those of EU Reporter. Please see EU Reporter’s full Terms and Conditions of publication for more information EU Reporter embraces artificial intelligence as a tool to enhance journalistic quality, efficiency, and accessibility, while maintaining strict human editorial oversight, ethical standards, and transparency in all AI-assisted content. Please see EU Reporter’s full A.I. Policy for more information.
Advertisement

Trending