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Polish PM 'satisfied' with UK-EU deal

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 20.02.2016 11:19
Prime Minister of Poland Beata Szydło has said she is satisfied with a deal hammered out in Brussels that renegotiates the UK's membership of the EU.
Prime Minister of Poland Beata Szydło in Brussels. Photo: PAP/Radek PietruszkaPrime Minister of Poland Beata Szydło in Brussels. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

We have an agreement that is satisfactory for Poland, and that is satisfactory for the EU,” she said.

It is an agreement that provides the opportunity for the EU to be developed together with Great Britain.

Visegrad Group countries Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia had earlier voiced concerns about prospective cuts in benefits for EU migrants to the UK.

Ultimately, Prime Minister of the UK David Cameron obtained a compromise on the benefits question.

EU migrants already based in the UK will not have their in-work benefits curbed.

However, an 'emergency brake' on benefits, originally designed to last until a new migrant has been in the the UK for four years, could be introduced, although with modifications to the original plan.

The brake would actually be phased in over a four-year-period, and Cameron has been told the UK should have “full expectation of approval”, if London applies to introduce the changes.

This policy cannot be pursued indefinitely, or even for the 13 years that Cameron had sought, but seven.

On the question of child benefits paid to children not resident in the UK, Cameron was not able to achieve a complete cut. However, London can pay the benefit level of the country in question, which as far as the Visegrad Group is concerned, is significantly lower.

I believe Britain is stronger, safer and better off in a reformed European Union,” Cameron tweeted.

He is due to announce a referendum date on Saturday on whether the UK should leave the EU. (nh/pk)

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