Stringent European issues

Britain reached an agreement with other European countries over its future in the EU.

Valentin Țigău, 22.02.2016, 13:56

European leaders met in Brussels at the weekend to discuss Britain’s future in the European Union. After marathon talks, Britain struck a deal that allows it to introduce a four-year ban on social benefits for community immigrants and to exempt the City of London from European rules and regulations on banks and capital markets.

British Prime Minister David Cameron set the date for the EU membership referendum for the 23rd of June and said he would campaign for Britain to stay in the European Union. The country is, however, divided over Britain’s future in the EU, and so is his cabinet. Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis, who attended the crucial EU summit at the weekend, said Romania stood against discrimination and that the solution to London’s demands should fully comply with the provisions and principles laid down in the European Union treaties.

Trying to allay some of the fears over the status and rights of the Romanians working in Britain, president Iohannis said those already working in Britain would not be affected by the agreement signed in Brussels. Klaus Iohannis:

“The Romanian citizens already working in Great Britain will not be affected by this measure. This only applies to workers entering the British job market after the application of the agreement, who will, however, be able to recover access to these benefits gradually, over the course of four years.”

(Translated by Cristina Mateescu)