UK risks being nasty country of Europe, EU says

The European Union’s Employment Commissioner has slammed Britain’s plans to limit European migrants’ rights to claim jobless benefits, saying London risks being seen as a “nasty country.”

Laszlo Andor’s remarks came on Wednesday after Prime Minister David Cameron announced plans to deport homeless migrants and cut their rights to unemployment as well as housing benefits.

Cameron’s plans came in response to calls from his Conservative party for action to manage the expected influx of Bulgarian and Romanian migrants from the beginning of next year when restrictions on their entry to Britain are lifted.

Andor also accused Cameron of not presenting the “full truth” about the matter and suggested the reaction in Britain was based on “hysteria.”

“The British public has not been given all the truth and the full truth about this subject. So, we would need a more accurate presentation of the reality, not under pressure, not under such hysteria which sometimes happens in the UK,” said Andor.

EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding also commented on Cameron’s plans urging Britain to look at the “facts and figures” and accused Cameron of “making noises” for partisan reasons.

“I would really applaud if on all these questions we could come down to Earth again, look at facts and figures, [and] see what has to be done in order to solve the small problems,” said Reding.

Earlier this week, the European Commission said in a report that Bulgarians and Romanians moving to the UK would help the country’s economy, as EU migrants contributed far more to the British tax system than what they received in benefits.