‘No change in EU movement freedom’

British Prime Minister David Cameron has been hit by a fresh setback in his bid to curb EU migration, after incoming European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said rules on freedom of movement cannot be changed.

Juncker said Wednesday that he is not willing to compromise on rules allowing EU nationals to live in any of the bloc’s 28 nations.

Freedom of movement has been “a basic principle of the European Union since the very beginning and I’m not prepared to change this,” said Juncker.

Juncker has also reportedly told Marianne Thyssen, his new commissioner for employment, social affairs, skills and labor mobility that the rules for migration should be slackened.

In a letter sent last month, Juncker told the elected commissioner that she should be “improving the conditions for geographic and professional mobility across Europe.”

Cameron has presented plans to cap EU migration by limiting national insurance numbers available to workers, a move which Brussels has called “illegal” under EU laws. 

Juncker also called for flexibility from Britain regarding the issue and its discussions with Brussels over UK’s membership terms.

“I do want flexibility from Britain and then flexibility can be the answer from the European Union not only as far as this problem is concerned but all the problems,” said Juncker.

The remarks came on the same day as the European Parliament approved the new European Commission headed by Juncker. The commission is set to take office on November 1.

Cameron had voiced opposition to Juncker’s candidacy for the post, saying the former prime minister of Luxembourg is too much in favor of closer political union.

CAH/HMV/SS