The prime minister will announce plans to limit EU migration before Christmas but the search is still on for a way to do this without needing to re-write the founding treaty of the EU - the Treaty of Rome - which enshrines the principle of the freedom of movement of people.

Sources stress that no final decisions have yet been made on what the specific measures will be, how they will be announced (ie whether in a speech or an article or an interview) or when they'll be made (ie before or after the Rochester by-election).

Yesterday's Sunday Times story about a possible limit to the number of national insurance numbers issued to new arrivals from the EU is said to draw on current practice in Croatia - the latest country to join the EU.

British workers wanting to live and work in Croatia for more than three months need a work permit which - according to one website - requires:

proof of accommodation or housing in Croatia

proof of financial means to support yourself

proof of health insurance

proof of purpose for your stay (work, family, education, research, etc.)

criminal background check (plus certified translation)

More:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29687248

---

IZAKOVIC
Everybody knows that we are claustrophobic, homophobic, and more of those grave phobic notions.
This goes on for last 1400 years or so.
Perhaps that is why we are still here.