EU

The European Union has been forced to drop controversial plans to deport failed asylum seekers who do not have passports after African countries blocked the move.

European leaders offered more than £1billion aid in a bid to persuade their African counterparts to take back tens of thousands of illegal migrants.

But a migration summit in Valletta, Malta, descended into farce after the Africans rejected the EU plan to expel those who do not qualify for asylum using special papers.

  Read more

Cameron said the EU must agree to “irreversible changes” that would cede autonomy back to member states — and limit freedom of movement, a key EU principle, by allowing the U.K. to restrict benefits for European immigrants.

Britain will hold a referendum by the end of 2017 on whether to leave the EU. Cameron says he wants to stay in, provided he can secure the reforms he seeks.

  Read more