17/01/2014 Politics Europe

boycotted the poll in protest at the overthrow of the democratically

elected Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi. Now on BBC News, Politics

Europe. On today's programme. The EU

president accuses David Cameron of chauvinism and scaremongering.

Britain has been debating whether to limit the free movement of people

across Europe. The Maltese government is under fire for its

plan to sell 2000 passports for 650,000 euros each. Political

parties gear up for the parliament elections in May. Candidates seek

their party 's nomination is to be president. Boatbuilding, broadband,

transport. Projects in Cornwall funded by the EU. Here is our guide

to Europe in 60 seconds. Multis plans to sell passports to

foreigners to 650,000 euros have made the EU angry. Under the scheme,

they can live in any member state not just Malta. Citizenship must not

be up for sale. The Greek Prime Minister set up a stall for it being

president of the union. Jobs and growth will top the agenda over the

next six months. Tough talking from a man about the future of the EU. A

simple choice to Europe. Reform or decline. His private life

overshadowed his plans to get the economy moving again. Honey

accidentally contaminated with genetically modified pollen will not

have to be listed. I have been joined by an MEP and

some guy. Let's look at the stories and a bit more detail. The planned

to sell EU passports were 650,000 euros each. That is about half ?1

million. Should that be legal? Yet to think that they're not just

selling Maltese passports. They then have the right to go all along the

border. Ireland and Portugal have also done that. Ireland made of a

?200 million from this. It's happening right across the board.

The big problem is and selling it to wealthy businessmen who will invest

into Malta. The problem is Bulgaria and Romania who will hang out to

other countries. There is evidence it is happening. When Spain has

given amnesty to people from Morocco, the problem is that Spain

which has 50% or 60% youth unemployment, these people will then

gradually drift west. Is Malta being different to us? I hear we have a T1

investor scheme where you get the passport if you contribute ?1

million. There are many countries around the world including the US

and Canada that have this. There are schemes in place in most countries.

This is a case for each country to decide what their rules are. Once

they have rules and they are transparent, they have to abide by

them. You want is giving them a passport. They are then free to go

everywhere. It must be a concern to everyone in the EU. We have to make

sure that the rules which are set out that they are adhered to. In all

fairness, we can't see they are breaking the rules. Being able to

travel freely as one of the main parts of the treaty made in the

1950s. Poorer countries like Romania and Bulgaria joining in recent years

mean that David Cameron says there should be limits to the freedom of

movement. It has been met with a hostile reaction. As an EU citizen

with one of these, I can arrive in a French city and start working and

settle down if I want. It is just like members from other member

states including those from Bulgaria and Romania. One man is trained to

change that by calling for tougher controls on the freedom of movement

from poorer EU countries. There's even talk of a on the numbers able

to come and work in Britain. It has been met with derision by the Europe

Parliament this says the idea will not fly. I have to offer him

nothing. If he wants to redefine the relationship between United Kingdom

and European Union, the relationship defines us. It is a right which is

not up for negotiation. It can't come as a surprise that the

principle from movement exist and is applicable throughout the union

without discrimination, because we don't do that. The problem is that

the principle of freedom of movement is etched into the fabric of the

European Union. Many say it is nonnegotiable. We do not

discriminate. They pay taxes where they work. These proposals are

against European and treaty law. Everyone else will defend the

discretion of free movement. What is getting a better wrap is giving

access to benefits. The pension secretary has suggested two years

before welfare can be claimed. This is agreed by the government, but

they don't like to debate. It is the way they have gone about it. You

can't work with people with similar views. You need to work with these

people and not threaten them and lecture them. When it comes to

Europe, they have always gone in different directions. They fell out

with David Cameron over his plans on Europe. The elections will be based

on whether you are in or out. We want to see the benefits of the

opinion. David Cameron is talks on the European Union were meant to

keep sceptics on board. It is not enough. Some Conservatives believe

it is time for Britain to pack its bags and leave the EU altogether.

We are joined by Bulgaria 's minister. Thank you for joining us.

You described the British attitude to free movement as an intimidation

campaign. That is pretty strong, isn't it? It is the way our citizens

see it. That is why I had to say how we felt. What is more important now

is that the campaign is granted and we are ready to reset correlations

and start giving positive messages from both sides this country that

has taken an a net increase of 3 million migrants. It is hardly an

unwelcoming country in general. Definitely. That is where we were

surprised. Bulgarians are not a nation which is ready to come in big

numbers into the United Kingdom. We have proved in the past years that

those Bulgarians are already here in the United Kingdom and contribute

and are good members of the communities they live. That's where

this campaign isn't understood. Is a bigger problem that are going to

lose poorer you are in risk of losing some of your best and

brightest and hardest working of the country. I'm you afraid we will get

the benefit of them instead? They support the British economy in this

case. That is part of the rules within the union. We are ready and

we do accept that on our side. We also have to accept some difficult

rules including another transitional period that was in our treaty. EU

citizens are allowed to come and land and Bulgaria. There was debate

there, but I government said it was part of our commitments and not

negotiable. Yes, from 1st of January 2014, we apply these rules. The

evidence we have seen so far is that there hasn't been avalanche of

Bulgarians coming to this country. Those that have been coming here are

coming to work. Do you have a view of when it is appropriate for those

who come here when they should qualify for their qualify for

welfare. I wouldn't enter into the debate on changes of social welfare

and healthcare. It is a national responsibility. The national

governments and parliaments have possibilities to change their rules.

Within the European rules, the experts follow closely what is being

proposed and adopted in United Kingdom. What's important is that

the changes aren't being done in a disk entry way. This is the General

agreement in my meetings with parliamentarians. They reconfirmed

that any change will have no disk on a tree nature. Thank you for joining

us. There are two things here. We have always welcomed people who want

to come here and work. But there said, a lot of people choose to work

elsewhere within the European Union. I think that is a very positive

thing. People are quite welcoming of that particularly given that many of

our doctors and professionals and the city of London benefits hugely.

Many of the Europeans are working. The real issue is that there is no

continuity or consistency in social and welfare benefits in Europe. Some

countries allow you to have access to welfare within three months, some

insects, some in a year. There is no consistency. UK had this instantly.

People come here and benefit. We can start to make a difference once it

is on the table for debate. The bigger issue here is that the

freedom of movement of people may work when you're talking about two

economies but when you open them up particular to Bulgaria, the minimum

wage is 350 euros or odd man. The average is 150 or odd month traffic

is only ever going to be one way. We can't. We have 1 million children

are employed. But that is not as the results of Romanians or Bulgarians.

It is the fault of the system. Our MPs have a strong. We should have

the skills being offered so they could come here and work. We can't

have an open border. The jewel party leader was predicting that they

would be pouring in. There is no evidence this has happened. They

will be disappointed. We are only 17 days in. I understand. Think tanks

think there will be 250,000 over the next five years. In addition to

those already here. 250,000 Romanians and Bulgarians can Chamakh

yes. Over five years. The Institute for democracy says Moore. It is not

similar to Bristol. It makes no sense to have an open border when we

had 2.4 million people unemployed in our own country. But if we stay in

the European Union, welfare payments, they are a different

matter, but the principle of free movement of people is, it doesn't

say free movement of workers, free movement of benefits, it is the free

movement of people, it covers everybody. There is no advocate in

the UK to change that. They are asking for a debate. I call it

democracy, not popular is on. We need to have an open debate. There

is plenty of room. We need to make sure that as the EU and margins, and

it will, we already have countries that are signed up to come and join.

We need to have sensible rules that they have to get to certain

standards before they are allowed that try to free movement or free

passage. We have the Ukraine, Serbia, all of them. We will be out,

we will be able to control it. As you may know, 2014 is the year of

fresh elections for the European Union. The voters in May. In

Britain, polls open on Thursday, the 22nd, day after my in case you want

to make another. The votes would be counted until Sunday the 25th

because of other European countries working at the weekend. Up for grabs

are 151 seats across 28 nations. In the United Kingdom, 73 MEPs will be

returned with seats allocated according to a share of the vote. It

is a PR system. The election will determine the make-up of the

European Parliament for the next five years. The voters also

important because for the first time, national leaders will have to

the result into account when deciding who should be the next

President of the EU Commission. That has led the European political

groupings to nominate their own candidates. A party of European

socialists has already made Martin Schultz, the current President of

the European Parliament, as their choice for the President. The

grouping will decide next month whether to choose the current

economic affairs commissioner or a former prime minister of Belgium. He

is a well-known federalist. In March, the writers and do evil party

will decide their candidate. -- People's Party. One of the options

is an EU commissioner. There we go. Who would you like to be the next

President ? None of the above. They have -- do you have a candidate? Any

star be decided between the states. I would like to see the next UK

commissioner be the President. Who is that? We won't know that until

July but I would like to have Nick Clegg... LAUGHS who would you like

the next President to be customer I don't think we should be in the

European Union. I knew you are going to say that. I

know. If you don't get away, who would you like? None of the above.

All it will happen is that it will be a big stitch up like we have with

the President of the Parliament. The socialist as an aside their man,

they will have a deal, be PUP will select theirs. It would be

democratic it will be business as usual. What letter to the European

Parliament ? -- what will it do to the European Parliament? We have a

huge group of maybe 35%, maybe more, of those outside of the mainstream

right and those to the further right. UKIP do very well. You're

thirsty third place in the poll. We have a head in France at the

moment. There is also Holland and Italy. What will that do to the

Parliament? My biggest concern is that most of the work is done and on

legislation, individual dossiers. Europe doesn't work on this. It

means that there will be less people doing more work and it means that

the centre will have to work harder to get those votes on proportion. So

there is a big chunk of the European Parliament, will it mean more

clashes between the Parliament and Brussels elites? I hope so because

they have had an easy ride. I think the make-up of the parliament will

change radically and maybe they will start listening to national

democracy is a bit more. Do you think we will come first ? I hope

so. But do you think it? I think we have a chance. Very political these

days. The biggest chunk of the European Union budget was in the

agricultural policy. Where does the second largest chunk go? No, not to

flex but to MEP's pensions. It is sent back to member states to their

poorest areas. Over the next seven years they will be sent to more than

300 early in euros. Where does it all go? In the latest instalment of

our European Union A-Z we have them looking at EU regional funds.

Welcome to Cornwall. And the Isa Brussels, it is on par with or

Transylvania. That is because Cornwall's annual income is less

than three quarters of the EU average. It means it qualifies for

special regional funding called convergence will stop it is designed

to even out economic disparities across Europe. In Wales, it is the

only place in the UK there gets it. In typical youth style, there is a

flotilla of other funds as well but the bulk of regional money goes to

regions like this. In Cornwall's case, 500 million pounds goes here

over six years. Where has that Congress should not this yacht

builders was awarded ?190,000. Local beneficiaries they had to match the

funding with the own money. This is what it paid for. The mould for

making the whole for the new model of yacht. The boats go to the super

rich but they are helping to spread the wealth by creating jobs.

Cornwall is very pretty around the outside and in summer when all of

the Range Rovers comedown from London and park outside the cottages

and feels very different. But you drive and five miles and their

industry was lower than last ten years. There has been a huge change.

Up the road is used to be fields but now it is higher education campus.

It the centrepiece for a university studying environment and

sustainability. 21 . They all seem quite cheap competitor because

project, broadband. BT got ?53.5 million to pay for it. The company

was stumping up the same amount. It all comes together here at the

innovation centre. Travis Head set on. Strap it on your head. The

investment on the Internet, new workspaces, education and employment

board the scams company which has gone from warm worker last summer to

11 by the end of this month. It made me feel a bit sick. It is so weird.

There isn't really an aspect of the business operation done here which

isn't some way as it did by European Union convergence funding. Devo

debate every night thinking the founding fathers of the EU?

-- do you go to bed every night. I wouldn't go that far but it has made

it a lot easier for us. In return, the EU gets its flat busted

everywhere. Yes, everywhere. It rages critics who think that the UK

could spend its own money, thank you very much. It really be said that?

As a local councillor, I am not sure that investment would have

happened. It has happened through the European Union and it is going

to happen in the future. We want to do our best to make the most of the

investment. Sometime, and yes, it Europe fund at this as well.

Insiders admit that not every year of regional funding was well spent

like rural airports and Spain which are a lot quieter than this one.

Regional funds aren't going anywhere. They are staying a crucial

and that part of the budget. What is not to like about this? Look

at all of this funding doing great things. Because it is our own money.

And the last round Britain put in ?30 billion and got ?9 billion back.

That is not good value for money. Look at my area, Merseyside, every

?2 88 we only get ?1 that. That is our money. It would be better spent

here. 20 seconds to reply. Wales is a huge

recipient of convergence funding and also gets a large amount of in. I

will take whatever we get so long as the standard correctly and make a

difference to our economy. And who could blame if for taking what you

can get? Thank you to my guests today. That

is all for now. Mixed fortunes were many of us as we

can. Chances are it is the Reynolds is a gimmick it