The UK government and the European Union are on a collision course over Prime Minister David Cameron's plans to curb immigration by renegotiating the the agreement on the free movement of labour.
Jose Manuel Barroso, who will step down next month as president of the European Commission, warned Mr Cameron on Monday that the UK would not even be of "marginal relevance" in the world if his attempted renegotiation led to the UK voting to leave the EU in the referendum promised for 2017.
Speaking at a Chatham House think-tank meeting in London, Mr Barroso said that Mr Cameron would be making an "historic mistake" if he alienated eastern European countries by going ahead with a reported plan to use the tax system to cap the number of low-skilled workers from the EU who could come to Britain.
Acknowledging that there was "widespread concern" in the UK over immigration levels, Mr Barosso said: "The Commission has always been ready to engage constructively in this discussion. But changes to these rules need all countries to agree.
"And it is an illusion to believe that space for dialogue can be created if the tone and substance of the arguments you put forward question the very principle (of the free movement of labour) at stake and offend fellow member states.
"It would be an historic mistake if on these issues Britain were to continue to alienate its natural allies in central and eastern Europe, when you were one of the strongest advocates for their accession."
Mr Barroso said that he appreciated that the Conservatives were being spurred into action by the recent electoral success of the UK Independence Party, but he added: "My experience is that you can never win a debate from the defensive. We saw in Scotland that you actually need to go out and make the positive case. In the same way, if you support continued membership of the EU you need to say what Europe stands for and why it is in the British interest to be part of it.
"Over three-quarters of CBI members want the UK to stay in, because they consider the single market is worth between £62 and £78 billion pounds to the economy. Five out of six City UK members say they do not want to see the UK leave, and the same is true for manufacturers.
Read more: Relocate Magazine - Barosso warns Cameron against 'historic mistake' over EU membership
Jose Manuel Barroso, who will step down next month as president of the European Commission, warned Mr Cameron on Monday that the UK would not even be of "marginal relevance" in the world if his attempted renegotiation led to the UK voting to leave the EU in the referendum promised for 2017.
Speaking at a Chatham House think-tank meeting in London, Mr Barroso said that Mr Cameron would be making an "historic mistake" if he alienated eastern European countries by going ahead with a reported plan to use the tax system to cap the number of low-skilled workers from the EU who could come to Britain.
Acknowledging that there was "widespread concern" in the UK over immigration levels, Mr Barosso said: "The Commission has always been ready to engage constructively in this discussion. But changes to these rules need all countries to agree.
"And it is an illusion to believe that space for dialogue can be created if the tone and substance of the arguments you put forward question the very principle (of the free movement of labour) at stake and offend fellow member states.
"It would be an historic mistake if on these issues Britain were to continue to alienate its natural allies in central and eastern Europe, when you were one of the strongest advocates for their accession."
Mr Barroso said that he appreciated that the Conservatives were being spurred into action by the recent electoral success of the UK Independence Party, but he added: "My experience is that you can never win a debate from the defensive. We saw in Scotland that you actually need to go out and make the positive case. In the same way, if you support continued membership of the EU you need to say what Europe stands for and why it is in the British interest to be part of it.
"Over three-quarters of CBI members want the UK to stay in, because they consider the single market is worth between £62 and £78 billion pounds to the economy. Five out of six City UK members say they do not want to see the UK leave, and the same is true for manufacturers.
Read more: Relocate Magazine - Barosso warns Cameron against 'historic mistake' over EU membership
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