EU court rules that Germany entitled to cut benefits to Swedish family who only worked briefly

A European Union court has ruled that Germany was entitled to cut off joblessness benefits to a Swedish family that came to the country to find work but only held temporary jobs for a short time.

Tuesday's European Court of Justice decision followed a ruling last year that Germany was within its rights to refuse jobless benefits to a Romanian immigrant who made no effort to seek work. There has been mounting concern in EU countries, particularly Britain, about perceived abuse of workers' freedom of movement and welfare systems.

In the latest case, a Swedish mother and three children who previously lived in Germany returned in 2010. The mother and eldest daughter worked in temporary jobs that lasted under a year; in 2012, a Berlin job office cut off benefits.