Employment Minister Chris Grayling

It would allow people who have never worked in this country to claim welfare and retirement cash. But critics last night warned Brussels to expect a battle against any such attempt to “bypass our rights”. Employment Minister Chris Grayling said: “The Government takes the very firm view there should be no opening up of our welfare system to people coming from abroad who do not intend to work and contribute to British society. “Our arrangements are for Britain to decide, not Brussels. I’m not happy with the way that the EU is behaving. “Europe should not be negotiating social security deals on our behalf. That’s why we’re going through the courts to stop them.” The “worrying” move emerged as Eurocrats prepare to sign a deal with Turkey, which wants to join the EU, and which could give its 75 million ­citizens full access to European nations’ social security payments.

Europe should not be negotiating social security deals on our behalf Employment Minister Chris Grayling

Ministers fear the controversial move will lead to a string of welfare deals with countries outside the EU, which this country would be powerless to resist. And it means benefits such as pensions and health care could be handed out to all immigrants, even if they have never contributed taxes to Britain. Brussels believes the pact will “enhance the special relationship with Turkey” and “permit Turkey to align its policies on social security co-ordination with those of the EU in preparation for future accession”. The deal would not immediately open the door to large numbers of new Turkish welfare claimants, because Britain already has a treaty with Turkey dating from 1961 which gives some access to social security benefits.

But officials are concerned that once Brussels has grabbed power over benefits eligibility rights could later be extended and given to citizens of other countries to claim here without ­British consent. Tory ministers are concerned this would add millions of pounds to the welfare bill, harm attempts to cut the deficit and encourage benefit tourists to exploit Britain’s generous social security system. This includes the basic state pension of £107.45 a week. Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: “If they are allowed to get away with these plans then the British government will not be able to stop who lives off our own taxpayers.” Tory MP Priti Patel said: “All British taxpayers should be deeply concerned about this. It demonstrates the extent of their erosion of British sovereignty.”

The Department for Work and ­Pensions is also angry at what it sees as underhand tactics used by the European Commission to bypass government consent. The Lisbon Treaty gave Britain the choice to opt in or out of agreements between Brussels and non-EU countries. However, the commission is trying to force through the deal using another part of the treaty that is usually used to govern relations between member states. DWP sources said Brussels was pursuing an attempt to “bypass our rights”, “seize control” of pensions and benefits rights and encroach further on British sovereignty. “We should have the right to decide whether to opt in or not to these agreements, but the way the EU is putting them together stops us exercising this right,” said a senior source.

The revelation will fuel support for the Daily Express’s massively popular crusade to get Britain out of the EU. Last week this newspaper revealed how the “Berlin group” of European nations headed by Germany and France wishes take away much of the UK’s sovereign power. It has drawn up plans for merging the jobs currently done by Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, and Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission. The Government has already started a legal battle to stop the EU e­xtending its power, taking a case to the European Court to stop similar deals with Switzerland and Norway. Last night the European Commission denied it was trying to harmonise social security systems, saying the deal would mean migrant workers were not put at a financial disadvantage when moving between states.