INTERIOR Minister Thomas de Maiziere joined in with anti-Gypsy rhetoric today, proposing measures to tighten regulations for EU migrants and alleging welfare abuse by incomers from Bulgaria and Romania.

He said that Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Cabinet was proposing a six-month limit on EU citizens staying in the country without a job.

In addition, EU citizens who are simply suspected of having abused Germany’s welfare system could be banned from re-entering the country.

“Freedom of movement is an essential part of the European integration, which we fully stand behind,” he said in Berlin.

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

He said that the new regulations were similar to those adopted by other EU countries.

Germany’s media has highlighted the disgusting conditions into which many Roma are forced to live and the illegally low wages paid by employers, but the government is intent on punishing the victims rather than perpetrators.