This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35434125

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
EU referendum: Cameron discusses 'emergency brake' on benefits EU referendum: Cameron discusses 'emergency brake' on benefits
(about 1 hour later)
David Cameron is in talks in Brussels over a deal to allow Britain to curb in-work benefits for migrants - with the permission of other EU nations.David Cameron is in talks in Brussels over a deal to allow Britain to curb in-work benefits for migrants - with the permission of other EU nations.
The so-called "emergency brake" plan is aimed at breaking the deadlock in Mr Cameron's EU renegotiations.The so-called "emergency brake" plan is aimed at breaking the deadlock in Mr Cameron's EU renegotiations.
The prime minister is hoping to get an agreement next month to pave the way for an in/out referendum this year. The prime minister is hoping to get an agreement next month to pave the way for an in-out referendum this year.
But Tory Eurosceptic John Redwood said the "emergency brake" was "an insult to the UK and not a serious offer".But Tory Eurosceptic John Redwood said the "emergency brake" was "an insult to the UK and not a serious offer".
Mr Cameron, who is meeting European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker later, wants to prevent migrants from other EU nations from claiming in-work benefits for four years, which he says will help reduce high levels of immigration to the UK.Mr Cameron, who is meeting European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker later, wants to prevent migrants from other EU nations from claiming in-work benefits for four years, which he says will help reduce high levels of immigration to the UK.
He is thought to have backing for his other three negotiating demands - but the benefit restrictions are being resisted by Central European member states, who view it as discriminatory against their citizens.He is thought to have backing for his other three negotiating demands - but the benefit restrictions are being resisted by Central European member states, who view it as discriminatory against their citizens.
Analysis by the BBC's Europe editor Katya Adler
The idea of the emergency brake has been on and off the table ever since David Cameron started trying to renegotiate the UK's relationship with the EU.
Arguably, he wanted an emergency brake on EU migration full stop. He's watered that down for it to focus on in-work benefits for up to four years.
The current idea would be that Britain could initiate a request for this emergency brake for up to four years if it could prove Britain's social and welfare system is under excessive strain from immigration.
But that brake would have to be approved by the majority of other EU member states - and of course, right from the beginning, they have been opposed to suspending benefits for other EU migrants.
One of the founding principles of the EU is the freedom for every EU citizen to live and work as equals anywhere in any EU member state, so they don't like it.
At the end of the day, these other countries want Britain to stay in the EU. It could be that they just hold their nose and say yes to the deal, or it could be there's a lot of European fireworks ahead.
Some EU nations have floated the idea of an "emergency brake" on immigration, that would allow member states to temporarily close their borders to stem abnormally high migration flows.Some EU nations have floated the idea of an "emergency brake" on immigration, that would allow member states to temporarily close their borders to stem abnormally high migration flows.
But now the term is being applied to a plan to allow member states to restrict welfare payments, if it can be proved that their benefit systems are under intolerable strain due to immigration.But now the term is being applied to a plan to allow member states to restrict welfare payments, if it can be proved that their benefit systems are under intolerable strain due to immigration.
The European Commission would perform tests on whether a brake in benefit payments was acceptable, but final approval would rest with a majority decision of the union's 28 states. The European Commission would perform tests on whether a brake on benefit payments was acceptable, but final approval would rest with a majority decision of the union's 28 states.
'Crunch moment''Crunch moment'
The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the negotiations were approaching a "crunch" moment and while Downing Street believed progress was being made, it was willing to walk away if it did get what it wanted. The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the negotiations were approaching "crunch" time and while Downing Street believed progress was being made, it was willing to walk away if it did not get what it wanted.
She said the emergency brake being proposed was "a complicated way" of pausing the payments of benefits such as tax credits to EU migrants and there were questions about how effective it would be and whether, in isolation, it would be enough for Mr Cameron to recommend the deal to the British people. She said there were questions about how effective the so-called brake would be and whether, in isolation, it would be enough for Mr Cameron to recommend the deal to the British people.
Referendum timeline: What will happen when? What are in-work benefits and who claims them?
Guide: All you need to know about the referendum The Department for Work and Pensions does not collect figures on the number of non-UK nationals claiming benefits at any given time.
Q&A: What does Britain want from Europe? But according to figures from the House of Commons published in November 2014, there were at the time 252,000 working families from the European Union claiming tax credits, the main type of in-work benefit.
More: BBC News EU referendum special Working tax credits are payments designed to top up the income of those in low-paid jobs and who work a minimum number of hours.
The BBC's Europe editor Katya Adler said what was being proposed was a long way off what had been originally talked off in terms of the UK being able to temporarily suspend all EU migration in certain circumstances and the talks were likely to "go down to the wire". The report suggested there were also 48,000 single people from EU countries claiming tax credits.
Working tax credits will eventually be replaced by universal credit, a single consolidated payment currently being rolled out across the UK.
Mr Redwood, who is part of Conservatives for Britain, a group campaigning to leave the EU, told the BBC the brake proposal fell "well short" of the need for Britain to regain control of its borders.Mr Redwood, who is part of Conservatives for Britain, a group campaigning to leave the EU, told the BBC the brake proposal fell "well short" of the need for Britain to regain control of its borders.
He said Britain would have to beg other countries in certain circumstances to impose a temporary halt on benefits, a plan he dismissed as a "bad joke". He said the prime minister had "got to do better than offer a feeble emergency brake that won't work". He said Britain would have to beg other countries in certain circumstances to impose a temporary halt on benefits, a plan he dismissed as a "bad joke". He said the prime minister had "got to do better than offer a feeble emergency brake that won't work".
'Tough lever''Tough lever'
Conservative MP Nick Herbert, who backs the PM's stance of wanting to remain in a "reformed Europe", said this was "a report of a proposal" and people should wait for the "final outcome".Conservative MP Nick Herbert, who backs the PM's stance of wanting to remain in a "reformed Europe", said this was "a report of a proposal" and people should wait for the "final outcome".
What "the middle ground of opinion" wanted from the negotiations, he claimed, were effective measures that would "restore control over migration and balance the numbers (coming to the UK)".What "the middle ground of opinion" wanted from the negotiations, he claimed, were effective measures that would "restore control over migration and balance the numbers (coming to the UK)".
"If there is a lever that can be pulled soon enough and will operate for long enough and would be a tough and practical measure, that would address our concerns," he told Radio 4's Today. "If there is a lever that can be pulled soon enough and will operate for long enough and would be a tough and practical measure, that would address our concerns," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Downing Street sources urged caution over reports of any breakthrough. Downing Street sources urged caution over reports of any breakthrough, saying Friday's talks would look at the "totality" of the renegotiations, not just the PM's demands on migration and welfare.
Number 10 said Friday's talks with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker would look at the "totality" of the renegotiations, not just the PM's most contentious demands on migration and welfare.
Once any deal on Mr Cameron's proposed reforms is reached, the UK will hold a referendum on EU membership - promised by the end of 2017.
Asked about the "emergency brake" on Thursday, Mr Cameron said the four-year proposal remained on the table until "something equally potent" was put forward to prevent new arrivals from getting "instant access" to the welfare system.Asked about the "emergency brake" on Thursday, Mr Cameron said the four-year proposal remained on the table until "something equally potent" was put forward to prevent new arrivals from getting "instant access" to the welfare system.
"But what's good is that others in Europe are bringing forward ideas to address this problem so we have better control of movement of people into our country," he said.
Mr Cameron is also due to have a working dinner with European Council President Donald Tusk in Downing Street over the weekend, and will hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel before an EU summit on 18 February.Mr Cameron is also due to have a working dinner with European Council President Donald Tusk in Downing Street over the weekend, and will hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel before an EU summit on 18 February.
David Cameron's four main aims for renegotiationDavid Cameron's four main aims for renegotiation
Referendum timeline: What will happen when?
Guide: All you need to know about the referendum
Q&A: What does Britain want from Europe?
More: BBC News EU referendum special