05/04/2013

Eastern Europeans Unlikely To Head For UK

A report commissioned by the Foreign Office has challenged claims made by the Conservative government that the UK will face a new wave of immigration from eastern Europe when restrictions on Bulgaria and Romania are lifted in 2013.

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research says its study shows Britain is unlikely to be the preferred destination for Bulgarians and Romanians.

It added that most migrants would come to the UK only to increase standard of living and job prospects, and not to take advantage of the welfare system, as has been claimed.

The report even claimed migrants would be more likely to go to Spain, Italy and to a lesser extent Germany.

The report is published a week after Prime Minister David Cameron vowed to toughen up on migrants and deny them access to welfare benefits, housing and other public services.

"The main destination countries for Romanian and Bulgarian (EU2) migrants are Spain and Italy, and to a lesser extent Germany," the report said.

"These choices reflect restrictions and freedoms on the right of Romanians and Bulgarians to work across the EU, employment opportunities and similarities in language. As time goes on, the presence of social and economic networks of existing migrants may mean that EU2 continue to migrate to Spain and Italy rather than other EU member states."

The Minister for Europe, David Lidington, welcomed the report.

"This report...is a welcome contribution to the debate on migration," he said.

"The report will help to shape this Government's work to build an immigration system which works in the national interest - supporting the UK economy by continuing to attract the brightest and the best global talent, at the same time as protecting our public services and ensuring our welfare system is not open to abuse.

"Our tough new rules are already taking effect with overall net migration falling by almost one third since 2010."

(IT/CD)

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