Britain handed potential Brexit boost as now Austria demands EU free movement changes
BRITAIN has been handed a potential boost ahead of Brexit negotiations after Austria demanded its own changes to EU free movement rules.
Austrian chancellor Christian Kern yesterday took aim at Brussels’ fiercely-protected immigration principle as he set out a 10-year plan to overhaul the country’s economy and boost jobs.
Mr Kern, who has faced a surge in support among voters for the rival far-right Freedom Party, called on the EU to allow Austrian citizens to be favoured over foreign nationals when applying for jobs in areas of high unemployment.
His 146-page plan stated: “That means - only if there is no suitable unemployed person in the country can (a job) be given to new arrivals without restriction.”
Singling out newer EU member states in a keynote speech presenting his proposals, Mr Kern said: “We have a situation where these eastern European countries are exporting their joblessness to Austria.”
Mr Kern vowed to “change course” having seen many supporters of his Social Democrats ditch the party amid the Freedom Party surge, which almost led to populist candidate Norbert Hofer elected Austrian president last year.
Mr Kern’s jobs proposal appeared to be a challenge to Brussels to rethink free movement rules, with his plan in direct contradiction of the EU’s fundamental freedom of movement principle.
A key pillar of the bloc’s seemingly sacrosanct ‘four freedoms’, free movement bans companies or governments discriminating between EU citizens based on their nationality.
Former prime minister David Cameron’s failed renegotiation of Britain’s EU membership was marked by huge opposition to his plans to tinker with migrants’ rights to UK benefits due to Brussels’ defence of free movement.
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The EU’s open borders policy has been a failure right across Europe
Ahead of Brexit negotiations, Mr Cameron’s successor Theresa May has consistently been warned by EU bosses the UK will not be allowed preferable access to the bloc’s Single Market if she wants to end free movement and place restrictions on EU immigration.
But Ukip MEP Gerard Batten, the party’s Brexit spokesman, suggested growing resentment at the EU’s free movement rules across the Continent could boost the Prime Minister’s hand in EU divorce talks.
He told Express.co.uk: “The EU’s open borders policy has been a failure right across Europe and this is being recognised in more and more EU member states.
“The biggest expression of that was in the Brexit vote but other countries’ politicians are also coming under pressure.
“This might be most clearly seen in the French presidential election later this year.”