EU Internal Migration To Take Advantage of Welfare State Worries Germany, U.K.

More personal responsibility might be in order

Britain and Germany have joined forces to demand an end to the abuse by so-called "benefits tourists" of the European Union's free movement directive.

Theresa May, the Home Secretary, has convinced her counterparts in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands to campaign for tighter restrictions to migrants' access to welfare handouts and other state-funded services.

In a joint letter, the countries have warned that migrants from EU members states are putting "considerable strain" on schools, healthcare and the welfare state, the Daily Mail has reported.

It comes as tens of thousands of Romanian and Bulgarian migrants prepare to come to the UK after restrictions on their right to work here are lifted at the end of the year.

David Cameron has said he wants to restrict migrants' access to housing benefit, legal aid and the NHS.