European Court of Justice rules against 'welfare tourism'

Luxembourg

THE EU's top court ruled on Tuesday that member states do not have to provide social welfare payments to EU citizens moving to their country solely to claim benefits.

Charges that the European Union's core freedom of movement principle has been abused by so-called "social welfare tourists" have helped drive recent gains for anti-EU parties who have campaigned for sharp immigration curbs.

The problem has become acute in Britain where Prime Minister David Cameron, fearing further inroads by the UK Independence Party to his right, has promised to limit immigration …