The European Commission is launching legal action against the UK, which it believes discriminates against EU citizens by making them pass an additional test to prove their rights to benefits. The UK says it will fight to keep the extra test.<\/p>\n
\n The UK\u2019s so-called \u2018right to reside\u2019 test is discriminatory to EU
\n citizens, leading to thousands being denied benefits, such as a
\n child tax credit and jobseeker’s allowance, according to European
\n Commission, which is taking the case to the European Court
\n of Justice in Luxembourg.\n <\/p>\n
The EC believes the standard EU test to tell if a migrant is
\n eligible for welfare payments is enough and any extra testing is
\n an infringement on EU citizens\u2019 rights.\n <\/p>\n
“We are asking the UK to change its resident permit test
\n because it is a discrimination against other EU citizens in our
\n open internal market<\/i>,” said an EU source cited by Reuters.\n <\/p>\n
It\u2019s not the first time the UK has been criticized for its \u2018right
\n to reside\u2019 test. Britain was already told to put an end to the
\n practice in 2011. However, it did not give up on the extra
\n testing then and it now promises to fight for it.\n <\/p>\n
“The right-to-reside part of our habitual residence test is a
\n vital and fair tool to ensure that benefits are only paid to
\n people who are legally allowed to live in Britain. We have always
\n been clear that we believe our rules are in line with EU law. If
\n the commission decides to begin legal proceedings, we will fight
\n vigorously to ensure that our benefit system is protected from
\n abuse by migrants<\/i>,” said spokesman for the Department for
\n Work and Pensions, as cited by the Guardian.\n <\/p>\n
Peter Lilley, the Conservative MP and former minister in charge
\n of social security at the time when the controversial testing was
\n introduced, said in an interview to the BBC that the legal action
\n by the EU is an attempt \u201cto extend their competence into areas
\n where the treaties say they shouldn’t be involved<\/i>.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
The legal battle in Luxembourg looms at a time when debate over
\n leaving the EU is becoming more and more acute in the UK. Prime
\n Minister Cameron promised that if he is reelected in 2015 a
\n referendum would be held on Britain\u2019s membership in the EU not
\n later than 2017.\n <\/p>\n