Angela Merkel Follows in David Cameron's Footsteps With EU Migrant Crackdown

Angela Merkel's government plans to crackdown on migration to Germany from elsewhere in the European Union.

The proposal comes amid accusations that Bulgarian and Romanian immigrants have abused Europe's largest economy's welfare system.

Thomas de Maiziere, interior minister of the grand coalition government (made up of the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union in Bavaria), said Merkel's cabinet mooted a six-month limit on EU citizens staying in the country without a job.

"Freedom of movement is an essential part of the European integration, which we fully stand behind," de Maiziere said.

"However, that does not mean we should close our eyes to the problems that come with it."

De Maiziere also announced that EU citizens suspected of having abused the country's welfare system could be banned from re-entering Germany.

The interior minister claimed poor EU migrants had tended to go to particular regions of Germany (like Duisburg) and exacerbate problems there.

De Maiziere said the German government was putting aside €25m ($32.9m, £19.8m) in 2014 for cities that are affected by the phenomenon.

The announcement comes after the UK Prime Minister David Cameron promised to crackdown on 'benefit tourism' by cutting the amount of time EU migrants, without realistic job prospects, can claim benefits for in Britain.

Cameron, writing in the Daily Telegraph, said that EU arrivals would now only be able to claim Jobseeker's Allowance or child benefit for a maximum of three months, a reduction from the current six month period.

The Conservative Party leader said the move would send the message to EU migrants that they "cannot expect to come to Britain and get something for nothing".

"Our goal is clear: an immigration system that puts Britain first," Cameron said.

"Achieving that means doing three things: clamping down on abuses of the system; making sure the right people are coming here for the right reasons; and ensuring the British people get a fair deal."