No European Union country has gained more than the United Kingdom from immigration by EU citizens, according to European commissioner for home affairs Cecilia Malmström, who said London had failed to produce evidence that abuses exist.
“This debate is very British, in a way. There are individuals in other countries but, overall, this argument about social welfare tourism is very British,” said the Swedish commissioner during a visit to London.
Immigrants have paid more taxes than they received in benefits, she said: “It has been very beneficial for Britain. People, I know, do not see it that way. It is nobody’s fault; that is just the way that it is.”
Tempers have been raised in Britain following a number of interventions by commissioners, including Lazlo Andors, who holds the employment and social affairs brief, who said that British politicians were "pandering to prejudice and xenophobia".
However, Ms Malmström was more diplomatic: “I don’t know who said that, but I wouldn’t say that. I don’t agree with that,” she said, when faced with Mr Andors’ quote during a Chatham House question-and-answer session.
Accepting that immigration in Britain is unpopular, she said: “I have also failed to get any concrete evidence that there is an active abuse of welfare. I have asked for [it], because we are boring, unelected bureaucrats, but we haven’t received it.”
However, the EU needs immigration: “Germany needs millions of people; they are chasing engineers all over the world and inside the European Union. It is an active policy of the German government.”
Europe losing attraction
The EU is less popular as a destination for non-EU immigrants: "Globally, for people who can choose, Europe is not as attractive as it used to be. People are going elsewhere. Many talented Europeans have left.
“We have seen Portuguese and Spaniards; they are now in Mozambique, Angola, Latin America. Many Irishmen have left as well. So the EU will have problems filling the vacancies of the future.”
She said the EU must work to cope with its 26 million unemployed.
