Prague, Feb 8 (CTK) – The Czech Republic will insist that the changes Britain wants to make in welfare benefits for immigrants concern only newcomers, the government decided on Monday when discussing the position Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka will present at a meeting of the European Council next week.
The government agreed that it is crucial that the measures in the social sphere concern only newcomers, that they are not discriminating and that Czechs do not have worse conditions than citizens from third countries.
“The government confirmed that it wants to do its utmost for the United Kingdom to stay in the European Union,” said state secretary for European affairs Tomas Prouza.
Prouza confirmed that there was a big discussion about the welfare benefits.
Last week, European Council President Donald Tusk presented the EU-Britain draft agreement, including a mechanism enabling to restrict the British welfare benefits paid to immigrants.
Britain presented four packages of demanded reforms to its relation to the rest of the European Union. The social package, namely its new welfare support rules, seems to be the most problematic point for Czechs. The Poles and Hungarians were critical of this package, too.
Another issue that is important for Prague are relations between euro zone members and non-members. London wants the countries that have not adopted the euro as their currency to more participate in the euro zone’s decision making, which is in accordance with the Czech position.
Prouza said Prague would like to be involved in the talks about the future of the euro zone.
On the other hand, only euro zone countries would contribute to the possible rescue of a euro zone state that would urgently need loans, according to the draft agreement.
Britain also wants to have the right not to take part in the political integration of the member countries, to deepen cooperation in digitisation and energy policy and to lower the administrative burden.
The Czech government’s position shows that the country generally approves of these demands. Before the European Council meeting, the Czech Republic will consult its position with Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, with which it forms the Visegrad Group (V4).
PM Sobotka will talk about the EU-Britain deal with Tusk who will visit Prague on February 16.
