The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Cameron's plan to block Greek immigration would break EU law

There is no legal basis for Cameron's populist promise.

By George Eaton Published 04 July 2012 9:07

David Cameron at the European Council. Photograph: Getty Images.

David Cameron said that Greek immigration could be blocked if Greece left the euro. Photograph: Getty Images.

While the eyes of the media were on Barclays, David Cameron casually suggested that the UK would block Greek people from entering Britain if their country left the euro. He told the Commons liaison committee:

[A]s I understand it, the legal powers are available if there are particular stresses and strains. You have to plan, you have to have contingencies, you have to be ready for anything – there is so much uncertainty in our world. But I hope those things don't become necessary.

Leaving aside Cameron's cynical populism, what "legal powers" is he referring to? The free movement of people, along with the free movement of goods, capital and services, is one of the four fundamental freedoms of the European Union. While member states have legally limited immigration from new EU countries (as we currently do in the case of Bulgaria and Romania), no country has ever restricted migration from established members. Even "in the event of war", EU law states, "Member States shall consult each other with a view to taking together the steps needed to prevent the functioning of the internal market being affected".

There is little prospect of the EU allowing Britain to unilaterally suspend migration from Greece, a member state of 31 years' standing. It was as recently as April that the EU Commission warned the UK to fully comply with European law on the free movement of people or face an EU court case. In addition, as the excellent Free Movement blog notes, since Article 18 prohibits discrimination based on nationality, any restrictions on Greek immigration would need to apply to all EU citizens.Would Cameron really be willing to see free movement suspended for UK citizens? (An event that would have deleterious consequences for his net migration target.)

Worse than the Prime Minister's feeble understanding of EU law, however, was his sinister suggestion that Greek people represent a threat to our economy. He told MPs: "I would be prepared to do whatever it takes to keep our country safe, to keep our banking system strong, to keep our economy robust. At the end of the day, as prime minister, that is your first and foremost duty." So, the biggest threat to our "robust" (recession-plagued) economy and our "strong" (crooked) banking system is posed by our fellow Europeans. Until yesterday, no country, including those that share a border with Greece, had suggested pulling up the drawbridge and abandoning the principle of free movement. How shameful that it is the UK that is the first to do so.

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Tags: Greece Immigration Europe David Cameron

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49 comments

Thu, 2012-07-19 13:36 — Goji (not verified)

Nice article..... interesting.
Goji Goji fructe goji

Sun, 2012-07-08 11:02 — AAMVN (not verified)

Cam-moron indeed. Sadly I think this back of an envelope thinking is charactersitic of his ilk.

Sat, 2012-07-07 12:06 — statsman (not verified)

Cameron and UK policy makers have a problem. Its not Greek migration thats the issue, nor is it the footloose Polish who return in great numbers after a few years. Instead the immigration system is being overwhelmned by non-Europeans who dont leave and who dont integrate.

In order to tackle that problem a dialog must first be constructed around a safe issue like European immigration into Europe. Once its established that uncontrolled European immigration is not in the UKs interest then it will be possible to transfer the debate over to non-European immigration.

Having established the first as unrequired the latter can also be limited. This rather elaborate approach is required because the pro-immigration lobby will regard any attempt at controlling non-european immigration as equivalent to the KKK running the show. By showing that even Europeans can be blocked entry then Cameron et al. likely hope to stop that irrational argument in its tracks.

Thu, 2012-07-05 20:21 — lowongan (not verified)

think twice before taking important action that impact mass lowongan kerja

Thu, 2012-07-05 20:09 — george w (not verified)

The US Founders never would have imagined an American elite (applies to anti-white global elites everywhere) so corrupt that they would dissolve the people and import a new one. But how about the WHITES? There future?

How is this not genocide:
White countries are being flooded by non-whites. We are told to be TOLERANT. We are forced to integrate.

With assimilation we see the extinction of one race only, the white race. Its not funny, not comedy, its white genocide.

Thu, 2012-07-05 16:10 — Walters Herbert (not verified)

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Thu, 2012-07-12 16:48 — mcquade

Lying cunt

Thu, 2012-07-12 16:48 — mcquade

Lying cunt

Thu, 2012-07-05 05:57 — Seanmichaels (not verified)

If you support the forcible elimination of white children with mandatory mass immigration and "assimilation" imposed only on white countries,you are an anti-white.

If you pretend the genocide law allows the genocide of white children in the name of "anti-racism",you are anti-white.

Finally,if you say whites who want to maintain our group`s existence are "racists",you are anti-white.

Are you anti-white?

Anti-racist is a codeword for Anti-white

Thu, 2012-07-05 01:06 — Harold Stassen (not verified)

And what would happen if you did break EU law? Would they throw you out of the EU? Seriously? "This is hire and salary, not revenge!"
Even if they did, this 21st century version of the Napoleonic blockage would leak even worse than the one two hundred years ago.

Wed, 2012-07-04 20:04 — Morales Holly (not verified)

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Wed, 2012-07-04 20:11 — Yanni

You are an impostor!

Wed, 2012-07-04 20:01 — Svenn (not verified)

Genocide involves the attempt to achieve the disappearance of a group by whatever means. It does not have to be violent, it could be a combination of policies that would lead to a certain group dying out.”

Malcolm Fraser (Prime Minister of Australia 1975-1983)

Attempting to ‘blend’ White people, out of existence in Every White country at the same time is Genocide.

Nobody is doing this to Every Asian country, or Every Black country.

‘Anti-racism’ is a codeword for Anti-White

Wed, 2012-07-04 22:19 — Danny Halas (not verified)

You are a very small minded, nut job and you sound like a Nazi. Please, don't shot anyone. And by the way, skin colour is determined by the climate of where ever you live. Not genocidal Greeks trying to blend us out.

So don't worry, in a few generations you've have the racial purity you crave.

And are the Brazilians being purposely blended out by all the European immigrants moving out there because of their booming economy?

Tue, 2012-08-28 21:19 — JustAWhiteMom (not verified)

Why do you support mass immigration policies that will result in a future without white children? Do you believe the world will be a better place when there are no white people left?

Tue, 2012-08-28 21:18 — JustAWhiteMom (not verified)

Why do you support mass immigration policies that will result in a future without white chilren? Do you believe the world will be a better place when there are no white people left?

Wed, 2012-07-04 18:15 — Yanni

Greeks we have no objection about this comment of PM Cameron.
We Please you to start the deportation with the Greek ancient monuments which are stolen from Greece and give back to us our civilization i guess you are not in need our monuments to prove that you are civilized ,our country it's not your colony!
Please be civilized!

Wed, 2012-07-04 16:43 — s_o_b (not verified)

"So, the biggest threat to our "robust" (recession-plagued) economy and our "strong" (crooked) banking system is posed by our fellow Europeans. " - Yup, you got it, though the EU and its associated laws are more of a threat than the odd Greek.

EU law is, by and large, an ass.

Wed, 2012-07-04 22:30 — Danny Halas (not verified)

And how is the EU a threat? And why is Germany, France, Austria and all the EU member states apart from Greece, Spain and Italy not in recession while we are?

Please, name one EU law which is holding us back and explain why leaving the EU and having to pay more into it like Switzerland, Norway ect... would be beneficial to us.

Because apart from having my human rights protected I can't see what wrong with the EU.

Wed, 2012-07-04 20:00 — Svenn (not verified)

Well said. Check out Whiterabbitradio

Wed, 2012-07-04 20:00 — Svenn (not verified)

Well said. Check out Whiterabbitradio

Wed, 2012-07-04 15:34 — willoyen

not only illegal , just plain stoopid. What notion of the real world has this bumbling Eton idipot that he imagines hordes of Greeks are going to start pouring into Britain: a country hardly holding together better than theirs? What a twit...sadly, he was far too close in bed with the house of murdoch and its editress.

Wed, 2012-07-04 16:51 — s_o_b (not verified)

What's an 'Eton idipot'?

Leaving that aside and your somewhat childish insults, you essentially make the same argument that the last government made when it decided not to restrict the number of immigrants that could enter the UK from the East European accession countries. As I recall it went something like "of course lots of poor East Europeans won't want to come to the UK. I mean, why would they? A few thousand at most......"

Anyone who questioned this assumption, or dared the question the desirability of the eventual total of hundreds of thousands of immigrants arriving in a small country was promtly labelled 'racist'.

Of course, we are meant to feel pleased and forgiving now that Miliband tells us that, after all, it's not racist to question the wisdom of large scale immigration. Well, Ed, thanks for nothing. I knew that already!

Wed, 2012-07-04 15:27 — willoyen

the law has never been an obstacle to this oligarch making illegal moves in the interests of the ruling cliques; vote-earning declarations like this, hostile to the EU at any price, constitute cheap tabloid-style campaigning for the future referendum, and posturing to primitive Tory provincial ignoramusses. The Brits censure the EU for being undemocratic...the Brits - a people which stands out against every attempt at consensus, which stands against the rule of law, signed up to by treaty, against human rights. A country that instead protects, as a rogue state seething in corruption, finance, banking, defence , the security and military industries, and impudently expects the EU to scew everything in its favour rather than the benefit of all... democratic?

Wed, 2012-07-04 15:13 — Barrie J (not verified)

Cameron will say and do whatever he feels necessary to stay in power.
It is the raison d'etre of the Tory Party to sustain and enrich the privileges enjoyed by the elite and Dave's job to ensure they continue to do it.

Wed, 2012-07-04 12:58 — Fraziel1

lets hope he does it. Stuff all these liberal elitist wealthy lefties who , of course, are not affected in any way detrimentally by mass immigration due to living in nice areas where the immigrants never end up. Not to mention the lowering of wages and changing peoples communities. Cynical populism it might be but last i looked politicians are supposed to work for the people and the people, the large majority of, do not want this.

Wed, 2012-07-04 17:48 — AJR90 (not verified)

You really don't have a clue, do you. Of the 40,000 Greeks currently in the UK, most are students, some are businessmen evading taxes, and a large proportion work in british universities and the NHS.

Thu, 2012-07-05 07:21 — Zogger (not verified)

"Of the 40,000 Greeks currently in the UK, most are students, some are businessmen evading taxes, and a large proportion work in british universities and the NHS."

That's not really the point though is it? If you're Greek and GREXIT happens which will basically destroy the economy you'd be mad to stay in Greece if you can hop on a cheap flight to somewhere else.

Unless something is done we could end up with millions of people arriving in the UK and demanding a house and benefits until they can find a job. Which, given the state of the economy, could well be sometime even if they are actively looking.

I.e. there's a difference between the Greeks here who are probably well integrated into society and the ones who would arrive following a catastrophic collapse of the Greek economy who would basically be refugees.

Thu, 2012-07-05 15:23 — spencerline (not verified)

While I think that Cameron and this Tory government are out of order, I must point out that the UK has loads of Illegal immigrants too, its our own fault for letting them in just as its Greeces own fault for letting illegals in to their country so you can keep them as the UK doesnt want them.
As regards these bloody Elgin marbles if it wasnt for Elgin spending 70,000GBP in 1812 to restore and ship them to the UK they woudnt even exist anymore as they were just being allowed to fall apart and were being burned by Greeks for the lime to be used in building more houses.
Contary to your belief we in the UK are not all Criminals, drug dealers or alcoholics, and if we decide to go to Greece for our holidays we will spend as much or as little as we like on what we like. That being said I have no problem with the Greek people provided they have no problem with me.

Thu, 2012-07-05 15:22 — spencerline (not verified)

Thu, 2012-07-05 11:56 — Hellene (not verified)

I am a Greek or Hellene living in Greece (not wishing to leave my country for the UK or any other place) and I could not agree more with D. Cameron. Here are some thoughts on how to extend his one-sided plan so that there are some benefits for Greece too. There are only 10 million Greek people living in Greece. The rest are illegal immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, African countries, Albania and many more. I suggest we send you illegal immigrants from Greece (a number of them with a criminal record, Greek prisons are jammed with them at the time, and we have to pay for their stay here and medical care while we suffer from the crisis). They must be more than a million and most of them do not want to stay in Greece but wish to go to wealthy European countries. In return you can send us back our 40.000 expatriate Greek people and their families, (NHS doctors, university lecturers, students, businessmen and the rest) because our country needs them, they are our human capital. Especially for the Greek businessmen living in the UK, deport their businesses as well to Greece so that they pay taxation to Greek authorities. You can always (please do) keep the former king of Greece because he's related to the UK's royal family and we don't want to alienate him from his kin. Also STOP allowing Greek people to study in the UK, live, work or even go on holiday in the UK BUT BEFORE YOU DO THAT BRING BACK OUR MARBLES FROM THE ACROPOLIS AND ALL THE REST OF OUR ANTIQUITIES THAT YOU HAVE STOLEN SO THAT THERE IS NO REASON FOR US GREEKS TO EVER WANT TO SET FOOT ON YOUR COUNTRY. As for the British tourists who want to spend their holidays in Greece, they will be welcome as long as
a. they do not have a criminal record,
b. they are not drug-addicts or alcoholics or hooligans,
c. they do not sell drugs
d. they have a specific amount of money to spend (1000E+ for a 5 day
stay, they should show receipts for goods or services paid in Greece before
leaving the country and if they have spent less they can pay the difference
to the Greek taxation authorities like we do here in Greece collecting
receipts for the taxation authorities or we get a fine).
Seems like a fair deal to me.

Thu, 2012-07-05 11:12 — gianni (not verified)

What do you mean "integrated"?You obviously mean ,that the Greeks living in the UK have lowered their standards to "integrate" to your society.
We Greeks, are in general in a much better state than you Brits.We are highly educated, and the majority hold a university degree.We love our country, and we would never leave it to go someplace ,far worse in any aspect. The beauty of Greece and our vast history is enough to keep us here,fighting to improve this dire financial situation.
Don't get me wrong,i like the UK and especially Scotland.But lets be rational,plz!
So stop insulting us with the notion that we would like to come as refugees in the UK. And while you 're at it,return all the stolen treasures of Greece, and the other ancient civilizations and exhibit your vast culture instead.I am sure that the British Museum would be flooded with people,eager to discover your countless archaeological treasures.
Excuse me if i offended you,but you started it first.

Wed, 2012-07-04 12:42 — Zogger (not verified)

As one of the comments says Germany has already blocked citizens of other EU states from claiming benefits

http://www.thelocal.de/money/20120309-41235.html

Also if one thing the New Statesman seems to miss is that if you talk to the man on the street, the odds are they'd say that if the EU blocks this law, that means we need to do something about the EU. Aka leave.

I wouldn't go as far as that but Parliament should be sovereign. We shouldn't let a failed state like the EU tell us who we pay benefits to.

Also what he said is this

“I think the legal position is that if there are extraordinary stresses and strains it is possible to take action to restrict migratory flows. But obviously we hope that does not happen.”

Since he didn't mention what this is based on, it's a bit premature to say he is wrong.

EU treaties are not a suicide pacts and a lot of 'rights' under them have caveats like this.

Also Iceland ignored an EC directive on deposit insurance and it didn't do them any harm. If I were the UK government I'd dig up some obscure clause in an EC directive about "extraordinary stresses and strains" and use that as an excuse to limit immigration from the EU. If people don't like it they can take the government to court. Even if the Government loses hopefully by then the crisis will have abated. It's not like the UK would be the only country doing this. Sometimes you wonder if the New Statesman adopts a "my country : always wrong" approach. Personally I hope the UK succeeds in any case.

And if you look here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_Market#Free_movement_of_people

There's a subtle difference between free movement of 'workers' and people (i.e. people who are claiming benefits). So I could theoretically turn up in Greece and get a job, but that doesn't necessarily mean I could claim benefits there. It seems like member states are free to restrict the second case.

Wed, 2012-07-04 15:39 — willoyen

'Since he didn't mention what this is based on, it's a bit premature to say he is wrong'

if it's a bit premature to say he is wrong it's irresponsibly premature to say what he said

Thu, 2012-07-05 07:10 — Zogger (not verified)

That doesn't even make sense. It sounds to me like 'if there are extraordinary stresses and strains it is possible to take action to restrict migratory flows' is a direct quote from legal advice he has received.

Wed, 2012-07-04 11:40 — Dark Heart of Toryland (not verified)

It's all too typical of the Tories to try to cherry-pick the bits of globalisation which they think will be profitable to their party donors, while pandering to the prejudices of their voters by claiming to be able to reject the bits of globalisation which are unpopular.
When King Cnut ordered the tides to turn back, he was demonstrating to his advisers the limits of governmental authority. When Cameron claims to support globalisation and free trade, while at the same time opposing the free movement of labour, he is demonstrating to everyone his intellectual and moral bankruptcy.

Wed, 2012-07-04 15:44 — willoyen

'When Cameron claims to support globalisation and free trade, while at the same time opposing the free movement of labour, he is demonstrating to everyone his intellectual and moral bankruptcy.' agree entirely, dark heart of toryland. Well said. This scurvy politician has just about as much respect for the law as Blair had for the truth.

Wed, 2012-07-04 11:39 — Sue Jameson (not verified)

Even though the other member states are quite happy to break EU laws when it suits them, Cameron doesn't have the bottle.

The Germans have stopped giving benefits to the Greeks and the Spaniards, that's breaking EU Equality Laws, how much fuss is being made of that?

http://www.thelocal.de/money/20120309-41235.html

Wed, 2012-07-04 11:06 — nourredine

Another u-turn in the horizon.

Wed, 2012-07-04 11:02 — Libby Mitchell (not verified)

The EU commission want to flood the UK with immigrants.
We need to say no to this before it is too late.

Nobody is saying that Africa needs diversity.

Nobody is saying that Asia needs diversity.

They are already 100% diverse.

People are only telling white children in Britain that they need diversity.

Britain will be 100% diverse when there are no white people left.

Diversity is a code word for white genocide

Anti-racism is a code word for anti-White

Thu, 2012-07-05 12:10 — Hellene (not verified)

In return you can send us back our 40.000 expatriate Greek people and their families, (NHS doctors, university lecturers, students, businessmen and the rest) because our country needs them, they are our human capital. Especially for the Greek businessmen living in the UK, deport their businesses as well to Greece so that they pay taxation to Greek authorities. You can always (please do) keep the former king of Greece because he's related to the UK's royal family and we don't want to alienate him from his kin.

Also STOP allowing Greek people to study in the UK, live, work or even go on holiday in the UK BUT BEFORE YOU DO THAT BRING BACK OUR MARBLES FROM THE ACROPOLIS AND ALL THE REST OF OUR ANTIQUITIES THAT YOU HAVE STOLEN SO THAT THERE IS NO REASON FOR US GREEKS TO EVER WANT TO SET FOOT ON YOUR COUNTRY.

As for the British tourists who want to spend their holidays in Greece, they will be welcome (we invented hospitality after all) as long as
a. they do not have a criminal record,
b. they are not drug-addicts or alcoholics or hooligans,
c. they do not sell drugs
d. they have a specific amount of money to spend (1000E+ for a 5 day
stay, they should show receipts for goods or services paid in Greece before
leaving the country and if they have spent less they can pay the difference
to the Greek taxation authorities like we do here in Greece collecting
receipts for the taxation authorities or we get a fine).

Seems like a fair deal to me.

Wed, 2012-07-04 11:47 — Dark Heart of Toryland (not verified)

I don't suppose it will have occurred to you that large-scale migration is an integral and inevitable part of the globalised neoliberal economic system, a system which has been imposed upon most of the world at the instance of western governments, dominated very largely by white men.
As for for all the hysterical ranting about 'genocide', bear in mind that the only genocide that has ever been inflicted anywhere in Europe has been inflicted by white men in the name of white racial superiority. Give me diversity anyday.

Tue, 2012-08-28 21:22 — JustAWhiteMom (not verified)

Lie. White racial superiority had nothing to do with the holocaust. Hitler went after the Jews because he perceived them as subversive not because he thought they were inferior.

Wed, 2012-07-04 10:23 — Stop White Genocide (not verified)

Ever heard of an anti-racism campaign that targeted any group other than people of European descent as “racists”?
All anti-Whites ever do is make excuse after excuse to turn every White country into a non-White country.
All anti-Whites ever do is rationalize and justify White children living as minorities in every country their ancestors built.
All anti-Whites ever do is justify genocide of White children, and only White children.
Anti-racism is a codeword for anti-White.

Wed, 2012-07-04 19:37 — jankaas (not verified)

you are a troll and i claim my £5

or,

you are insane.

Wed, 2012-07-04 22:34 — Danny Halas (not verified)

I'm thinking insane. My family has Jewish descent so when I read comments like this one alarm bells ring.

Tue, 2012-08-28 21:23 — JustAWhiteMom (not verified)

Does Israel's Jews-only immigration policy make your alarm bells ring?

Wed, 2012-07-04 09:49 — Bill23 (not verified)

Most EU countries take little notice of these "laws". The problem is that we have bred a nation of politically correct twits. All we can do is follow silly rules and pretend to be managers, but what will the managers do if they don't find enough people to manage - learn to do something useful!

The stupidity of people who obey man made laws, while ignoring the natural laws is staggering, and an indication of what is still a primitive society in the broader picture.