Lithuanians in UK more concerned over "Brexit" than benefit cuts

As European Union member states’ leaders begin discussing the United Kingdom’s proposed EU reforms in Brussels, Lithuanians living in the UK say they are more concerned about the prospect of the UK leaving the EU, or "Brexit", rather than the UK’s proposed cuts to benefits.

"People are concerned about what will happen if the British will vote for leaving the EU in the referendum,” Zita Cepaite, head of the Lithuanian community's London division, told BNS. “The status of Lithuanians living here would be unclear.”

According to Cepaite, Britain's departure from the EU would cause a dilemma for Lithuanians as to the citizenship of which country to choose.

Lithuanians living in Britain primarily expressed concerns about proposed cuts to benefits. However, their concerns are eased by the British government’s pledges that the new rules surrounding benefits would apply only to new arrivals to the UK.

In the run-up to the EU summit on February 18, diplomats coordinated their positions that would allow Britain to restrict in-work benefits for EU citizens for the first four years of their arrival. 

British Prime Minister David Cameron demands the reforms ahead of a planned referendum on the UK's membership in the EU, which could take place as early as June 2016.