Need for Screening of EU Migrants in UK

Why in news?

In recent times migrants of European Union in Britain are causing trouble to the Country’s citizens.

How migration in EU has evolved?

• The Schengen Agreement, 1985 granted the citizens of EU nations and their families right to live and work anywhere within the EU because of EU citizenship.
• EU countries with highest number of immigrants from other EU countries include Germany, the United Kingdom and France.
• Meanwhile, EU countries with the highest number of emigrants to other EU countries include Poland, Romania and Germany.
• These migrations were hastened after the European debt crisis where many small EU nations became bankrupt and failed to provide job opportunities and stable economy for its citizens.
• In the past decade, along with migrants from EU, migrant fleeing war in Central Asian countries end up in major countries of EU.
• Even though the quantity of migrants into the UK has reduced, still a lot of migrants both from EU and non EU nations are living in Britain.

What are the concerns of the migrant population in Britain?

• The migrants who are unemployed don’t receive benefits from government like the citizens who are entitled for unemployment allowance.
• With the increase of migrants from non-EU countries who are ready to do any kind of jobs, then market which was available for EU migrants is reduced.
• This migrant’s crisis, resulting in competition for jobs in UK was also one main reason for Britain to exit from EU.
• The EU migrants also feel hatred towards the UK citizens for the Brexit decision which has affected their chances of citizenship and secure life in Britain.
• These concerns has pushed the EU migrants into criminal activities like robbery, murder which is affecting the safety and security of UK’s citizens.

What are the instances of safety breaches for UK citizens?

• The EU migrants are using several techniques to plunder the people like snatching their wallets, holding them at gun point and forcing them to withdraw money from ATMs, attacking with knives, etc.
• They also pretend to be police officers or patrolling cops and fine citizens for alleged crimes.
• Therefore, changes in the UK migration policy are needed to screen future EU migrants for background.
• The already present EU migrants have to be provided with relief and work, so that they stop wandering the streets and attacking people.

Source: Business Standard